ODIHR observers leave Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

Representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) have completed their observation mission in Belarus, Eric Collings of Britain, a long-term observer, said in an interview with BelaPAN on Thursday.

"We feel that we have had a successful mission and we were able to implement the standard OSCE methodology for observing elections," he said.

On Wednesday, ODIHR observers paid "a farewell visit" to the central election commission to thank them for cooperation during the parliamentary campaign. According to Mr. Collings, observers expressed hope that there would be more cooperation between the OSCE Office and the Belarusian authorities in future.

As for possible ODIHR observation of the Belarusian presidential elections in 2006, Mr. Collings noted, the issue was not brought up at the meeting. "An invitation to those elections will be only the issue closer to 2006," he added.

He also said that the central election commission made no direct comments on the ODIHR preliminary findings regarding the past parliamentary campaign. "The central election commission only confirmed that they had received the report and that they are considering it." The mission informed the commission that its final report would be ready in late November or early December, according to Mr. Collings.

"The final report will contain "certain recommendations which will be developed as a result of the observation that took place. These recommendation will be put to the central election commissions and the Belarusian authorities in general for their consideration for the future election cycle," he added.