Press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

VIENNA, 16 February 2010 - The following is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

Pia Christmas-Moeller to lead election observation in Tajikistan 

COPENHAGEN, 16 February 2010 -- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, has appointed OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice President Pia Christmas-Moeller Special Co-ordinator for observation of the parliamentary elections in Tajikistan on 28 February. She will also lead the Parliamentary Assembly's delegation of election observers to the Tajik elections.

In the capacity as OSCE Special Co-ordinator, Ms. Christmas-Moeller, Member of Parliament from Denmark, will lead the short-term OSCE observer mission, work closely with the OSCE ODIHR On-site Co-ordinator, and deliver the preliminary post-election statement on behalf of the OSCE at a press conference in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on Monday, 1 March.

"Democratic processes are absolutely vital for Tajikistan to flourish and I look at these elections as an opportunity for progress in the country," said Pia Christmas-Moeller. "My fellow observers and I certainly have an important role to play and I want to wish Tajikistan and its citizens success."

Pia Christmas-Moeller has been a member of the Danish parliament since 1987. An independent member since 2007, she was for many years a member of the Conservative Party, including its political leader 1998-1999, its political spokesperson 2001-2007 and foreign policy spokesperson 2005-2007.

Ms. Christmas-Moeller has headed several OSCE election observation missions in the past, including to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's parliamentary and presidential elections in June 2008 and March 2009. At the U.S. election in 2008, she served as deputy head of mission under President Joao Soares.

The OSCE PA observed the presidential election in Tajikistan in November 2006.

Almost 200 OSCE short term observers, including over 40 OSCE parliamentarians, are expected to participate in the observation mission to Tajikistan at the end of February.

Contact:
Klas Bergman, Director of Communications, OSCE PA
Tel. +45 33 37 80 40; Mob. +45 60 10 83 80; Email: klas@oscepa.dk