News from Copenhagen

Number 91 Current Information from the OSCE PA International Secretariat 6 November 2003 Bruce George leads OSCE Election Monitors in Georgia An OSCE PA Delegation of 21 parliamentarians from Arme- nia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom observed the parliamentary elections in Georgia on 2 November 2003. The Mission was headed by OSCE PA President Bruce George, who acted as Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE Chair- man-in-Offi ce. Mr George delivered the preliminary post elec- tion statement on 3 November in Tbilisi, joined by Tom Cox, Head of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly´s Delegation; Demetrio Volcic, Head of the Delegation of the ; and Julian Peel Yates, Head of the Long- Term Observation Mission of the OSCE Offi ce for Demo- cratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The joint statement concluded that the elections fell short of a number of international standards. Delays and confusion over voter lists contributed to a lack of public confi dence in the authorities’ capacity to manage an effective and transparent dent Bruce George regretted that the 2 November parliamen- election process. tary elections in Georgia “have been insuffi cient to enhance Although the election provided voters with a wide choice of the credibility of either the electoral or the democratic proc- candidates, unrealistic timelines and improvised, last minute ess.” decisions threatened to undermine the otherwise improved The OSCE PA Delegation was accompanied by Press Coun- work of the Central Election Commission. OSCE PA Presi- sellor Jan Jooren and Programme Offi cer Tina Schøn.

7 December State OSCE PA Delegation Participates in Aqaba Seminar Duma Elections A Delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary the Mediterranean as a whole, and here in the Assembly participated in the 2003 OSCE Medi- Middle East in particular by sharing its experi- Sixty-four OSCE Parliamen- terranean Seminar held in Aqaba, Jordan on 20 ence in overcoming the divisions of the past.” tarians from Bulgaria, Cyprus, and 21 October. The Seminar was devoted to Mr. Michel Voisin intervened in the debates the Czech Republic, Estonia, Fin- the “Comprehensive Approach to Security: The of the Seminar, outlining the need for further land, the FYR of Macedonia, OSCE Experience and its Relevance for the Med- involvement of the OSCE in the Mediterranean, France, Germany, Greece, Hun- iterranean Region”. which should not be restricted to the Mediterra- gary, , Latvia, Liechtenstein, Leading the Delegation was OSCE PA Presi- nean Partners for Co-operation. He commented Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, dent Mr. Bruce George, who was joined by Mr. on the importance of strengthening the Barcelona Poland, Romania, , Michel Voisin, Head of the French Delegation Process and of economic co-operation. Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the and Special Representative for the Mediterra- Mr. Panayotis Kammenos also took part in nean, and Mr. Panayotis Kammenos, Vice-Chair- the debates and informed the participants of United States, and the United man of the First General Committee and member the Assembly’s activities regarding the Mediter- Kingdom have already registered of the Greek Delegation. The Delegation was ranean, referring to the Second Parliamentary to observe the parliamentary elec- accompanied by Mr. Stanislas Brezet, staff of the Forum on the Mediterranean, which, on the invi- tions in Russia on 7 December French National Assembly, and by Mr. Gustavo tation of the Greek Parliament, will be held in 2003. Pallarés from the Assembly’s International Sec- Rhodes in October 2004. The OSCE PA Observer Team retariat. With the objective of exchanging views and will be headed by President Bruce President Bruce George, as guest speaker, promoting the Assembly’s Mediterranean dia- George, who will also act as Spe- addressed the opening session of the Seminar. In logue, the President of the Parliamentary Assem- cial Co-ordinator of the OSCE his statement, he referred to the Assembly’s active bly took the opportunity of his stay in Jordan Chairman-in-Offi ce for the Obser- involvement in Mediterranean issues, including to hold bilateral meetings with leading Jordanian vation Mission in Russia. the First Parliamentary Forum on the Mediterra- offi cials. On Sunday 19 October, President George On Monday, 8 December, nean held in on 11 October. Mr. George met with the Speaker of the Jordanian Senate, Bruce George will deliver the pre- also called for the need to strengthen dialogue Mr. Zaid Al Rifai, and with the Deputy Speaker liminary post-election statement and co-operation with the OSCE’s Mediterranean of the Jordanian Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Sami Partners for Co-operation. Al Khasawneh. On Monday 20 October, Presi- in conjunction with other offi cial “The OSCE,” he said, “can make a contribu- dent George met with the Jordanian State Minis- election observers. tion to creating a more favourable atmosphere in ter for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shaher Bak. For further information please contact: Secretary General R. Spencer Oliver, and Mr. Jan Jooren, Counsellor, Public Affairs,