H.E. Mrs. Dora Bakoyannis

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece

 

12 March 2009

 

Dear Minister Bakoyannis,

 

Thank you once again for your participation in the OSCE PA’s Winter Meeting last month. I was pleased that we had an opportunity to discuss common concerns. As I mentioned at that time, the OSCE PA has experienced considerable difficulties in working with the ODIHR on elections in the past, but it is my hope that we can work beyond these.  I am most pleased to hear that the discussions in Athens yesterday were positive, and I thank you for your efforts in trying to find a solution to the problems that exist between the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE ODIHR.

 

In this regard, I am pleased to inform you that the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE will be sending delegations to observe the upcoming presidential elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 22 March 2009, the parliamentary elections in Montenegro on 29 March 2009 and the parliamentary elections in Moldova on 5 April 2009. I have appointed the Assembly’s Vice-President Pia Christmas-Møller from Denmark to head the OSCE PA Observer Delegation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the Assembly’s Special Representative for South East Europe, Mr. Roberto Battelli to head the OSCE PA Delegation to the Montenegrin elections. In addition, I have appointed Mr. Petros Efthymiou from Greece, who serves as Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment, to lead the OSCE PA Election Observation Delegation to Moldova. These three senior Members of the Assembly have extensive experience in politics as well as in observation of elections.

 

I would therefore respectfully ask that you, as foreseen by the 1997 Co-operation Agreement, appoint Ms. Christmas-Møller, Mr. Battelli and Mr. Efthymiou as your Special Co-ordinators to lead the OSCE Short Term Observers in these three upcoming elections respectively. In their capacity as your Special Co-ordinators, they would take overall political responsibility in these short term OSCE missions and deliver the preliminary post-election statements on behalf of our Organization. They are of course prepared to co-operate closely with the OSCE/ODIHR On-site Co-ordinator assuming that the ODIHR conforms to the Co-operation Agreement. In addition, the OSCE PA would expect to receive or have access to the regular field reports, the schedules and information on all observers, and all observer reports on an ongoing basis, including spot reports and weekly reports by all Long-Term Observers. To ensure clarity, they would use the title ‘OSCE Special Co-ordinator,’ and would expect the leader of the ODIHR Long-Term Observer mission to use the title ‘On-Site Co-ordinator.’

 

I genuinely hope that in this way we can continue co-operation within the OSCE on the basis of the 1997 Agreement.  This is in the best interests of the voters in the countries where we observe elections, and in the best interest of the OSCE. I am confident that the unique expertise and political experience of the three Members I nominate will positively benefit the OSCE observation missions.

 

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

João Soares