alegeri.md

Under the auspices of OSCE Mission to Moldova a new joint statement on the first and second rounds of Bashkan elections in Gagauzia has been issued. The statement welcomes the efforts of authorities so that to ensure organisation of the December 3, 2006 elections in accordance with international standards for democratic elections. As the December 17 run-off election is approaching, the document expresses concerns about the conduct of the first round of elections, and call authorities’ attention to the importance of correcting some of the problems cited by Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE), the OSCE Mission to Moldova, and local and international observers during the first round, such as:

• unequal campaign conditions;
• preferential access to media;
• inaccuracy of voting lists.

The statement reads also that these elections are an important opportunity to demonstrate to all throughout Moldova and to the international community that the Republic of Moldova respects and enforces the principles of autonomy, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The document was signed by the embassies of the EU member states, by the embassies of Bulgaria, Romania, US, Turkey, Delegation of the European Commission, CoE Secretary General Special Representative and OSCE Mission to Moldova.