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Centre in Almaty issues statement on Kazakhstan election commissions
ALMATY 18 September 2000
ALMATY, 18 September 2000 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Centre in Almaty issued the following statement regarding the formation of new election commissions by the municipal and regional Akimats (local authorities) of Kazakhstan.
The new election commissions were formed in accordance with a decree issued by the Central Election Commission on 8 July 1999. This decree introduced a lottery system as a result of which representatives of political parties can compete for one seat on each election commission.
It has come to the attention of the OSCE Centre in Almaty that during the formation of the new election commissions, there have been attempts to create the impression the OSCE approves of such a process. In fact, the OSCE Centre in Almaty has not to date expressed an opinion. Therefore any previous references to OSCE approval of this process of forming new election commissions and including representatives of political parties through the lottery system are misguided and incorrect.
The position of the OSCE Centre in Almaty in relation to this procedure is as follows:
In general, the OSCE welcomes attempts by the Central Election Commission to expand the participation of political parties in the electoral process and, in this particular case, in the work of the election commissions. However, the extremely short timeframe and the secrecy of the current process cause surprise, especially considering that large-scale elections are not scheduled for the near future.
It also should be noted that during the recent Round Table on Elections, held in Astana on 2 September, under the auspices of the OSCE in close co-operation with the Government of Kazakhstan, the participants agreed to discuss "the independence of election commissions, the transparency of vote count and tabulation procedures at all election commission levels and all other election procedures" at the next Round Table in January 2001.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty expresses confidence that, despite this process of creating new election commissions, the issue of independence of election commissions will be a topic of serious discussion during upcoming meetings of the expanded Government Working Group for Improving the Election Legislation (GWG). The decision to expand the GWG to include representatives of civil society and the OSCE also was reached during the 2 September Round Table meeting.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty firmly believes the introduction of the lottery system does not solve the difficult task of ensuring the independence of election commissions. The Centre anticipates that discussions in the framework of the GWG and future Round Tables will produce a series of further recommendations on providing for independence of election commissions. These recommendations would then become part of the package of recommended changes and amendments to the "Law on Elections" that will be submitted to the Parliament at the completion of the Round Table process.
For further details, please feel free to contact OSCE Centre in Almaty at the following telephone numbers: +(7-3272) 621762, 623685, 582309; fax: +(7-3272) 624385; or e-mail at osce@nursat.kz
The new election commissions were formed in accordance with a decree issued by the Central Election Commission on 8 July 1999. This decree introduced a lottery system as a result of which representatives of political parties can compete for one seat on each election commission.
It has come to the attention of the OSCE Centre in Almaty that during the formation of the new election commissions, there have been attempts to create the impression the OSCE approves of such a process. In fact, the OSCE Centre in Almaty has not to date expressed an opinion. Therefore any previous references to OSCE approval of this process of forming new election commissions and including representatives of political parties through the lottery system are misguided and incorrect.
The position of the OSCE Centre in Almaty in relation to this procedure is as follows:
In general, the OSCE welcomes attempts by the Central Election Commission to expand the participation of political parties in the electoral process and, in this particular case, in the work of the election commissions. However, the extremely short timeframe and the secrecy of the current process cause surprise, especially considering that large-scale elections are not scheduled for the near future.
It also should be noted that during the recent Round Table on Elections, held in Astana on 2 September, under the auspices of the OSCE in close co-operation with the Government of Kazakhstan, the participants agreed to discuss "the independence of election commissions, the transparency of vote count and tabulation procedures at all election commission levels and all other election procedures" at the next Round Table in January 2001.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty expresses confidence that, despite this process of creating new election commissions, the issue of independence of election commissions will be a topic of serious discussion during upcoming meetings of the expanded Government Working Group for Improving the Election Legislation (GWG). The decision to expand the GWG to include representatives of civil society and the OSCE also was reached during the 2 September Round Table meeting.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty firmly believes the introduction of the lottery system does not solve the difficult task of ensuring the independence of election commissions. The Centre anticipates that discussions in the framework of the GWG and future Round Tables will produce a series of further recommendations on providing for independence of election commissions. These recommendations would then become part of the package of recommended changes and amendments to the "Law on Elections" that will be submitted to the Parliament at the completion of the Round Table process.
For further details, please feel free to contact OSCE Centre in Almaty at the following telephone numbers: +(7-3272) 621762, 623685, 582309; fax: +(7-3272) 624385; or e-mail at osce@nursat.kz