OSCE reminds of its scrutinizing Moldova elections

The structures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will deploy some 300 observers to monitor the April 5 elections in Moldova, counted Petros Efthymiou, the chairman of the OSCE PA general committee, on Tuesday at a news conference. The Greek parliamentarian has been appointed by the OSCE chair-in-office as the special coordinator to lead the OSCE short-term observers and to deliver the post-election statement on behalf of the OSCE on April 6, Info-Prim Neo reports. The delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, led by Petros Efthymiou, visited Chisinau from March 15 to 17 to prepare the PA election observation mission. Some 60 parliamentarians from those 56 OSCE member countries are expected. Petros Efthymiou has explained the large number of OSCE observers by the interest that the OSCE countries attach to the Moldovan vote. “It's the largest OSCE mission for the last 5 years, as far as I remember,” said the parliamentarian. The delegation met with representatives of the authorities, of major political parties and with NGOs. “We meet with many, listen to all, but we'll announce our assessments after the elections,” Efthymiou said. He has added that analysts in the Chisinau-quartered OSCE mission also watch the media's conduct, both as quantity of airtime offered to electoral competitors and as quality. “I also see some remaining challenges during the electoral campaign as allegations of pressure or intimidation and the accuracy of the voter register. In addition, broadcast media need to be objective and provide equal and fair coverage to all contestants in these elections,” noted Efthymiou. In addition to the volunteer-observers to be deployed by the OSCE PA, another OSCE entity, ODIHR will send some 200 observers.