OSCE Special Envoy travels to Moscow to brief Chairman on Duma elections

MADRID, 3 December 2007 - The Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Josep Borrrell, visited Moscow from 30 November to 2 December to keep the Chairman informed about Sunday's elections to the State Duma.

The Special Envoy met representatives of the Russian authorities and political parties running in the elections. He also met the Heads of the International Missions sent by the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the CIS to observe the elections.

Borrell said he regretted that the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) could not participate in observing the Duma elections, but said he was confident the current difficulties could be overcome.

"Electoral observations carried out by ODIHR along with the Parliamentary Assembly are one of the most valuable assets of the OSCE, therefore I regret that the elections to the Duma did not meet the conditions so that ODIHR could proceed and observe them," said Borrell.

"I hope that next year's Presidential election will meet such conditions. In this respect I welcome the confirmation by the Russian authorities of their readiness to invite ODIHR to observe the Presidential elections. I am confident that to make it possible an efficient co-operation based on transparency and on a clear will to cooperate in all fields will be established."

"The Spanish Chairmanship is ready to actively contribute to seek formulas that will allow the difficulties that may arise to be overcome so that this co-operation can be effectively established," added Borrell.