Foreign Minister Kanerva expressed disappointment on non-observation of the Russian presidential elections by the OSCE

Press release 45/2008
7 February, 2008

The Chairman-in-Office Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva expressed his disappointment that discussions concerning the deployment of an ODIHR election observation mission between the ODIHR and the Russian Federation did not lead to a positive result.

"I regret that despite of constructive efforts on both sides the ODIHR and the Russian Central Election Commission did not reach an understanding on the terms of credible OSCE election observation in the Russian presidential elections on 2 March", Minister Kanerva said.

At the same time the Chairman-in-Office noted that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly had decided not to send observers to the Russian presidential elections.

The Chairman-in-Office called on all participating States to continue inviting the OSCE to observe their elections in accordance with agreed OSCE commitments and established practice."I see election monitoring as a tool for all OSCE participating States to develop their democratic institutions and practices," minister Kanerva said.

In spite of the recent disagreements Minister Kanerva highlighted the importance of continuing discussions on election-related issues: "A constructive dialogue on election related activities is needed in the OSCE."

Further information: Ambassador Aleksi Härkönen, Head of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 400 330 406; Juha Kirstilä, Press Attaché to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 40 552 8200