30 June 2005 (RFE/RL) -- An expert panel is due today in Vienna to release recommendations for reforming the OSCE, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The panel was appointed after Russia and some other countries of the former Soviet Union called for changes in the way the 55-country organization monitors elections and carries out other aspects of its work.
Russia, which has accused the OSCE of bias against ex-Soviet states, vetoed the OSCE budget last December as part of its campaign for changes.
AP reports that the reform panel lists election observation as one of the OSCE's priorities, but recommends that the OSCE further develop criteria and methodology to ensure objectiveness, transparency and professionalism and to adopt an approach that guarantees equal treatment of all OSCE states.
(AP/AFP)
See also:
Helsinki Report Finds Human Rights Problems Plague Entire Region
Russia, which has accused the OSCE of bias against ex-Soviet states, vetoed the OSCE budget last December as part of its campaign for changes.
AP reports that the reform panel lists election observation as one of the OSCE's priorities, but recommends that the OSCE further develop criteria and methodology to ensure objectiveness, transparency and professionalism and to adopt an approach that guarantees equal treatment of all OSCE states.
(AP/AFP)
See also:
Helsinki Report Finds Human Rights Problems Plague Entire Region