OSCE Special Co-ordinator Kent Harstedt checks the seals on a ballot box at the opening of a polling station in Kyiv, 26 October 2014 KYIV, 27 October 2014 – The 26 October early parliamentary elections marked an important step in consolidating democratic elections in line with international commitments, and were characterized by many positive aspects, including an impartial and efficient Central Election Commission (CEC), competitive contests

COPENHAGEN, 23 October 2014 – President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) today issued the following statement regarding the shooting at the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa on Wednesday: "I was shocked and saddened to learn of the shooting at the Canadian Parliament yesterday. On behalf of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I condemn this act in the strongest terms and extend my deep condolences to the families of the

COPENHAGEN, 22 October 2014 – OSCE parliamentarians will conduct a limited election observation mission to the United States of America for the country’s midterm Congressional elections on 4 November. Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, will serve as head of the delegation, which will comprise almost 40 MPs from 20 countries. “I am eager to

Kent Harstedt, the OSCE Special Co-ordinator for Ukraine's parliamentary elections (center), with CEC Head Mykhailo Okhendovskyi (left) and CEC Member Yuri Danylevskyi, Kyiv, 14 October. COPENHAGEN, 17 October 2014 – Kent Harstedt, the OSCE Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission for Ukraine's parliamentary elections, has completed a week-long preparatory visit to Kyiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts. Harstedt met

Roberto Battelli (MP, Slovenia), the OSCE Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission, and Marietta Tidei (MP, Italy), the Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Delegation of observers, look on as a citizen votes on 12 October in Bosnia and Herzegovina. SARAJEVO, 13 October 2014 – While the 12 October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were held in a competitive environment, the interethnic divide was a

OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (left) and Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic during their meeting in Helsinki, 9 October. COPENHAGEN, 9 October 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) underscored the vital contribution of the PA to the OSCE's reform efforts on the 40th anniversary of its founding document at a seminar today in Helsinki. Kanerva also met with Serbian Foreign Minister and 2015 OSCE