OSCE Chairman takes note of ODIHR decision not to observe Russian parliamentary elections

MADRID, 16 November 2007 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, said today he took note of the decision by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to tell Russia it would not be able to accept an invitation to observe the 2 December parliamentary elections there.

"Ambassador Christian Strohal, the Director of the ODIHR, has clearly explained to me, and to the Russian authorities, the reasons why the ODIHR has had to decline the invitation. I regret the conditions that meant this decision had to be taken," said Minister Moratinos.

"Unencumbered election observation is one of the cornerstones of any democracy and the ODIHR is rightly regarded as setting the standard in this area," said the Chairman-in-Office.

"I think there is still time for the Russian authorities and the ODIHR to work together to overcome the present situation."