Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Warsaw, 18 December 2009,
Mr. N.K. Zhukov
Head of the External Affairs Department Central Election Commission Russian Federation
Dear Mr. Zhukov,
I would like to thank you for your letter dated 3 December 2009 regarding your interest in the statement of preliminary findings and conclusions published by the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) on the presidential election in Romania.
The long list of questions attached to your letter fall into two different categories: first, those specifically related to the conduct of the 2009 presidential election in Romania; and second, those regarding the OSCE/ODIHR election observation methodology.
As to the first category of questions, as you are aware, the election process in Romania is ongoing and the OSCE/ODH-IR LEOM remains on the ground to observe the final phases of the process. It would, therefore, be premature to provide detailed responses before the process is completed. The OSCE/ODIHR will release a full final report two months following the completion of the process. I trust that the final report will respond to most, if not all, your questions.
The OSCE/ODIHR always welcomes expressions of interests in follow-up activities from OSCE participating States which have recently hosted OSCE/ODIHR election observation activities. Such follow-up visits served to discuss findings and recommendations with a view to assisting the participating State to improve the conduct of elections.
With regards to the OSCE/ODIHR election observation methodology, I welcome the desire to continue the ongoing discussion that was furthered during my last visit to Moscow in November. I can only reiterate my personal commitment to pursue this dialogue in a spirit of openness and co-operation between the OSCE/ODIHR and the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation. The OSCE/ODIHR election observation methodology is described in detail in the fifth edition of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Handbook, which is available in both English and Russian on the OSCE/ODIHR website.
In line with Ministerial Council decision 19/06, the OSCE/ODIHR strives to continuously improve its methodology. As reported by the OSCE/ODIHR Director on 29 October to the OSCE Permanent Council, the OSCE/ODIHR looks into complex issues such as voter registration, electronic voting, and campaign financing, with a view to providing further guidance for OSCE observers.
I understand that Chairman Vladimir Cnurov has accepted the invitation from Ambassador Lenaicic to visit Warsaw in January 2010- This may be an opportunity to hear your views about the election process in Romania based on the "other sources" cited in your letter and to discuss the questions contained in the annex of your letter.
I look forward to continuing our dialogue on election-related issues.
Yours sincerely,
Nicolas K aczorowski