Press release

WARSAW, 24 May 2005 - The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is visiting Ukraine on 24 and 25 May to discuss follow-up to the Office's final report on the Ukrainian presidential election in 2004.

"Following the work of the largest election observation mission ever deployed by the ODIHR, we have made a number of recommendations for consideration by the Ukrainian authorities in order to address the shortcomings that were identified in our final report on the presidential election", said Ambassador Christian Strohal, ODIHR Director.

"The authorities have indicated their willingness to improve voter registration and ensure professional working ethics of election commissions at all levels. We hope for fruitful discussions on further follow-up on how we, the ODIHR and the OSCE Project Co-Ordinator's Office in Kyiv, can be of assistance in view of the parliamentary election in 2006", he added.

During his two-day working visit, the ODIHR Director, together with Ambassador Geert Hinrich Ahrens, who headed the ODIHR Election Observation Mission, will meet with the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, members of parliament, representatives of the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Justice, political parties and non-governmental organizations.

The final report makes some 60 recommendations on issues such as the legal framework and OSCE commitments, candidate registration and withdrawal, voter registration, the election campaign, media, and election administration.