OSCE to assist with Chechnya elections

VIENNA, 15 January 1996 - The OSCE is continuing to work on preparations to support the upcoming elections in Chechnya, which are scheduled for 27 January.

Ambassador Tim Guldiman, Head of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya, is in Vienna today and tommorrow to meet with the Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council and the Secretary General, and attend a session of the Permanent Council.

The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has been identifying election observers, which should number about 60. Meanwhile, a security assessment team returned Monday from a three-day trip to Chechnya.

As a part of the overall effort, the OSCE is providing financial support for the technical preparation of the elections and for the election observation operation. To this end, the OSCE Secretariat is collecting voluntary contributions from OSCE participating States. So far, an amount of about $500,000 has been pledged to an OSCE voluntary fund. A similar voluntary fund was established for the OSCE supervision and monitoring of the September 1996 elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ambassador Guldiman is expected to report to the Permanent Council on the election campaign, OSCE technical assistance, and the proposed procedures for OSCE election observers.