OSCE/ODIHR ELECTION MONITORING MISSION BEGINS WORK IN MOLDOVA

A mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) has embarked on its election monitoring work in the Republic of Moldova.

Mission Head Matyas Eorsi said at a news conference in Chisinau on Wednesday that the Mission's main objective is "to observe and report" - without whatever interference into the election process "that belongs to nobody but Moldova and its citizens".

"The Mission's role is to make conclusions based on facts. We are concerned not about election outcome but about the election process as such and about its correspondence to democratic standards. That's why our observation will be based on the principles of transparency, objectivity and professionalism. Attention will be paid not solely to the election but also to its coverage in the press, to the campaign organization and to the work of state institutions in charge of the election process", said the OSCE/ODIHR expert.

Matyas Eorsi said the Mission consists of 11 experts specializing in various fields - election process, jurisprudence and the mass media. On January 21, the Mission will be joined by 28 more observers. Besides them, the bigger OSCE/ODIHR Mission will be working jointly with observers from the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, and from the European Parliament.

"We have come here on the invitation of the Moldovan leadership, and this will be the 14th ODIHR election monitoring session in this republic. We have already held meetings with the representatives of the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and of the Central Election Commission. But this is only a beginning. Later on we will hold meetings with the representatives of Moldovan state institutions, political parties, civil society and the media, and we will travel to various regions of the republic", said the Mission Head.

In his words, in about 2 weeks before the voting day, the Mission will present its interim report on election process observation. And on February 25 the OSCE/ODIHR experts will present the preliminary results of the work done.

"And in 8 weeks after the election, we will publish our Final Report on the February 24 parliamentary election. The document will include recommendations on making the election process healthier", said the Mission Head.