OSCE Magazine, December 2004 by Alex Nitzsche

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iÃÃ>}iÊvÀ ÊÌ iÊ ÀiVÌ ÀÊ vÊÌ iÊ"vv ViÊv ÀÊ i VÀ>Ì VÊ ÃÌ ÌÕÌ ÃÊ> `Ê Õ > Ê, } ÌÃ )T HAS BEEN A VERY FULL ELECTION YEAR FOR THE /$)(2 THE /3#% INSTITUTION THAT HAS ITS ORIGINS IN THE COMMITMENTS ON DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS AGREED IN #OPENHAGEN IN )N WE DEPLOYED SOME PEOPLE ON OBSERVATION MISSIONS AND THREE ASSESSMENT MISSIONS !S THE /3#% -AGAZINE WENT TO PRESS WE ANNOUNCED DETAILS FROM +YIV OF OUR EXPANDED %LECTION /BSERVATION -ISSION IN 5KRAINE FOR THE REPEAT OF THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ON $ECEMBER !LMOST ELECTION MISSIONS IN THE PAST DECADE SOME OF WHICH ATTRACTED CONSIDERABLE MEDIA ATTENTION TESTIFY TO THE VITAL ROLE PLAYED BY THE /$)(2 IN ASSISTING TRANSITION DEMOCRACIES ALL ACROSS #ENTRAL %ASTERN AND SOUTH EASTERN %UROPE -ORE RECENTLY WE HAVE ALSO ASSESSED ELECTIONS IN LONGER ESTABLISHED DEMOCRACIES AS IN THE 5NITED 3TATES IN .OVEMBER 4HIS AUTUMN THE /RGANIZATION EXPANDED ITS ELECTION RELATED ACTIVITIES BY SENDING AN %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM EVEN FURTHER AlELD FOR !FGHANISTAN S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION !LTHOUGH /$)(2 REPORTS SOMETIMES CARRY CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ) CAN GUARANTEE THAT WE STRICTLY ADHERE TO OUR ELECTION OBSERVATION MANDATE APPLYING A CONSISTENT AND OBJECTIVE METHODOLOGY THAT WAS lRST INTRODUCED IN 4HE UNIQUE CONCEPT BEHIND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CASUAL IMPRESSIONS ,ONG TERM OBSERVERS ASSESS IN A COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE MANNER HOW NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ELECTION COMMITMENTS ARE IMPLEMENTED ) UNDERLINE THE FACT THAT /$)(2 ELECTION OBSERVATION REPORTS DO NOT SPECULATE ON THE IMPACT OF OBSERVED ELECTION VIOLATIONS ON THE POLL S OUTCOME )N THE MONITORING AND ASSESSING OF ELECTIONS THE RESULTS ARE OF CONCERN TO US ONLY INSOFAR AS THEY ARE REPORTED HONESTLY AND ACCURATELY 0UT SIMPLY WHILE OUR WORK IS VERY MUCH ABOUT POLITICS IT IS NOT POLITICIZED 7E LEAVE IT TO OTHERS TO DRAW THEIR POLITICAL CONCLUSIONS FROM THE FACTS THAT WE DOCUMENT !S WE IN THE /$)(2 STAND ON THE BRINK OF ANOTHER BUSY ELECTION YEAR ) WISH TO THANK EVERY ONE OF OUR OBSERVERS FROM MORE THAN COUNTRIES FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY )T IS THEIR DEDICATION THAT IS TRANSLATING THE /$)(2 S ELECTION OBSERVATION METHODOLOGY INTO PRACTICAL REALITY ) HOPE THE SPECIAL ELECTION ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE OF THE /3#% -AGAZINE WILL CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK OF THESE COMMITTED MEN AND WOMEN #HRISTIAN 3TROHAL 7ARSAW $ECEMBER

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"ULGARIAN &OREIGN -INISTER 3OLOMON 0ASSY HANDS OVER THE /3#% BATON TO 3LOVENIAN &OREIGN -INISTER $IMITRIJ 2UPEL 0HOTO /3#% 3VETOSLAV 3TANCHEV

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/&)! 4HE POLITICAL CRISIS IN 5KRAINE FOLLOWING THE COUNTRY S DIS PUTED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE QUESTION OF /3#% REFORM DOMINATED DISCUSSIONS AMONG /3#% FOREIGN MINISTERS AT THE TH -INISTERIAL #OUNCIL MEETING IN 3OFIA ON AND $ECEMBER &OR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THE ABSENCE OF CONSENSUS ON A NUMBER OF KEY POLITICAL ISSUES MEANT THE TWO DAY MEETING ENDED WITHOUT AN ADOPTION OF A MINISTERIAL DECLARATION "UT THE MINISTERS DID ADOPT DECISIONS ON A RANGE OF ISSUES INCLUDING FIGHTING TER RORISM CURBING ILLEGAL SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS PROMOTING TOLERANCE AND NON DIS CRIMINATION AND COMBATING CORRUPTION 4HE #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE "ULGARIAN &OREIGN -INISTER 3OLOMON 0ASSY RECALLED IN HIS ADDRESS HOW IMPORTANT THE #ONFERENCE ON 3ECURITY AND #O OPERATION IN %UROPE THE FORERUNNER OF THE /3#% HAD BEEN TO HIM AND OTHERS OF HIS GENERATION AS THEY

STRUGGLED FOR DEMOCRACY IN "ULGARIA IN THE LATE S (E DESCRIBED THE MODERN DAY /RGANIZATION AS A VITAL INSTRUMENT FOR ENSURING SECURITY AND STABILITY IN THE /3#% REGION AND AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD h) APPEAL TO ALL THE PARTICIPATING 3TATES TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE /3#% AS A KEY FORUM FOR POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND CO OPERATIVE SECURITY v HE SAID )N THE RUN UP TO THE MEETING THE #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE HAD DEVOTED CONSID ERABLE ATTENTION TO THE CRISIS IN 5KRAINE PROVOKED BY THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ON .OVEMBER /3#% OBSERVERS SAID THE ELECTION FAILED TO MEET A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF /3#% COMMITMENTS (UNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS OF +YIV TO DEMAND THAT IT SHOULD BE REPEATED 5KRAINIAN &OREIGN -INISTER +OSTYANTYN 'RYSHCHENKO BRIEFED HIS MINISTERIAL COL LEAGUES ON THE SITUATION WHILE THE /3#% -INISTERIAL 4ROIKA THE .ETHERLANDS "ULGARIA AND 3LOVENIA HELD INFORMAL TALKS

$ECEMBER

WITH "ORIS 4ARASYUK A FORMER 5KRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WHO NOW CHAIRS THE PARLIAMENTARY #OMMITTEE ON %UROPEAN )NTEGRATION 4HE #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE ASKED 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL *ÉN +UBIÝ TO RETURN TO 5KRAINE ON $ECEMBER HIS FOURTH VISIT IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO TAKE PART IN A MEETING OF INTERNATIONAL MEDIATORS WITH THE MAIN POLITI CAL ACTORS TO HELP RESOLVE THE IMPASSE )N 3OFIA CLEAR DIFFERENCES WERE APPAR ENT AMONG THE MINISTERS AS THEY DISCUSSED PERCEIVED SHORTCOMINGS IN THE WORK OF THE /3#% AND THE QUESTION OF REFORM "ELARUSIAN &OREIGN -INISTER 3ERGEI -ARTYNOV SAID h4HE /3#% S CONTRIBUTION TO THE FORMATION OF THE SYSTEM FOR COMPREHEN SIVE SECURITY IN %UROPE IS IMMENSE OBVIOUS AND UNARGUABLE )T IS HOWEVER EQUALLY OBVI OUS AND UNARGUABLE THAT THE /RGANIZATION HAS BEEN IN AN EVER GROWING DEEP STRUCTURAL AND CONCEPTUAL CRISIS v (E ADDED h2ECTIFYING GEOGRAPHICAL IMBAL ANCES IN THE /3#% S ACTIVITIES REMAINS A PRESSING PROBLEM v 2USSIAN &OREIGN -INISTER 3ERGEY ,AVROV WARNED THAT THE /3#% COULD FACE AN IDEN TITY CRISIS AND SAID IT NEEDED COMPREHENSIVE REFORM 4HERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM OF hDOU BLE STANDARDSv IN ELECTION OBSERVATION MIS SIONS AND ELECTION MONITORING WAS BECOM ING hAN INSTRUMENT FOR POLITICAL MANIPULATION AND A FACTOR OF DESTABILIZATIONv h5NFORTUNATELY IT MUST BE SAID THAT THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES OF THE /3#% ARE BEING ERODED v -INISTER ,AVROV SAID h4HE /RGANIZATION IS NOT ONLY CEASING TO BE A FORUM UNITING 3TATES AND PEOPLES BUT ALSO ON THE CONTRARY IS BEGINNING TO DRIVE THEM APART v (OWEVER $UTCH &OREIGN -INISTER "ERNARD "OT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE %UROPEAN 5NION SAID THAT WHILE THE /3#% MUST CON TINUE TO ADAPT TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS THIS DID NOT MEAN STARTING FROM SCRATCH h/N THE CONTRARY THE /3#% IS FIRMLY ROOT ED IN ITS THREE DIMENSIONS POLITICO MILITARY ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN v HE SAID h4HE /3#% SHOULD EVOLVE BUT THAT IMPLIES MOVING ON FROM WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ACHIEVED )T DOES NOT AND IN THE OPINION OF THE %UROPEAN 5NION SHOULD NOT MEAN UNDOING THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS v 5 3 3ECRETARY OF 3TATE #OLIN 0OWELL ADDRESSING HIS LAST -INISTERIAL #OUNCIL MEET ING BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE SAID THAT THE /3#% COULD BE PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE (ELSINKI 0ROCESS BUT THAT THE 5NITED 3TATES REMAINED CONCERNED BY THE hUNFUL FILLED PROMISES OF DEMOCRACY AND RESPECT FOR

$ECEMBER

FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN SOME /3#% 3TATESv h3OME COUNTRIES HAVE RECENTLY ARGUED THAT THE /3#% S FIELD WORK CONSTI TUTES INTERFERENCE IN INTER NAL AFFAIRS THAT THE /3#% HAS @DOUBLE STANDARDS AND THAT THE /3#% HAS CONCENTRATED ITS EFFORTS IN THE FORMER 3OVIET REPUB LICS FOR POLITICAL REASONS ) CATEGORICALLY DISAGREE v HE ADDED #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE 0ASSY NOTED THAT THE MIN ISTERS HAD AGAIN FAILED TO AGREE ON A JOINT DECLARA TION BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON ISSUES SUCH AS 'EORGIA AND -OLDOVA h)N SUCH A LARGE /RGANIZATION WE COULD NOT EXPECT UNANIMITY OF OPINION 2USSIAN &OREIGN -INISTER 3ERGEY ,AVROV AND ON ALL THE ISSUES v HE SAID 5 3 3ECRETARY OF 3TATE #OLIN 0OWELL IN 3OFIA h)N MY OPINION IT IS BETTER TO 0HOTO /3#% 3VETOSLAV 3TANCHEV ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DIFFERENCES FRANKLY THAN TO AGREE ON SOME LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR LANGUAGE OF LITTLE SUBSTANCE v h)N THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK INTENSIVELY TO ACHIEVE LASTING SETTLEMENTS IN 'EORGIA -OLDOVA AND .AGORNO +ARABAKH #OURAGEOUS DECISIONS WILL BE REQUIRED FROM ALL THE PARTIES CONCERNED AND THE /3#% MUST REMAIN FULLY ENGAGED v -ONGOLIAN &OREIGN -INISTER 4SENDYN -UNH /RGIL ATTENDED HIS FIRST /3#% -INISTERIAL #OUNCIL MEETING SINCE THE /3#% 0ERMANENT #OUNCIL GRANTED HIS COUNTRY THE STATUS OF /3#% 0ARTNER FOR #O OPERA TION A WEEK EARLIER 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL +UBIÝ ADDRESSING HIS LAST -INISTERIAL #OUNCIL MEETING BEFORE THE END OF HIS TERM OF OFFICE IN *UNE SAID HE HAD WITNESSED THE EVOLUTION OF THE /3#% FROM AN INSTRUMENT FOR BRIDGING #OLD 7AR DIVISIONS INTO A TOOL FOR BUILDING A UNITED %UROPE ON THE BASIS OF SHARED DEMOCRATIC VALUES h7E ARE MUCH MORE OPERATIONAL BETTER ORGANIZED AND BETTER MAN AGED THAN WE WERE A DECADE AGO 4HE /3#% MISSIONS AND INSTITU TIONS ARE A PROVEN SUCCESS v HE DECLARED "UT HE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE /3#% WAS SUFFICIENTLY DYNAMIC IN RESPONDING TO NEW SECURITY CHALLENGES WITHOUT ABANDONING ITS COMMON VALUES AND ASKED WHETHER IT REMAINED RELEVANT TO ALL THE PARTICIPATING 3TATES h7E NEED TO REINVIGORATE THE /3#% AS A FORUM FOR HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL DIALOGUE ON THE MOST TOPICAL ISSUES OF SECURITY IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE OPENING OF NEW DIVIDING LINES IN %UROPE v THE 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL ADDED h/NLY THE /3#% CAN BE A PLATFORM FOR A @%UROPE WHOLE AND FREE EMBRACING EQUALLY OUR %UROPEAN #ENTRAL !SIAN AND .ORTH !MERICAN 3TATES v &OR MORE ON THE /3#% S TH -INISTERIAL #OUNCIL SEE WWW OSCE ORG EVENTS MC BULGARIA , V >À`Ê ÕÀ« ÞÊ ÃÊ"- Ê-« iÃ«iÀÃ Ê> `Ê i>`Ê vÊÌ iÊ*ÀiÃÃÊ> `Ê*ÕL VÊ v À >Ì Ê-iVÌ °

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N ELECTION DAY /CTOBER THE LONG DROUGHT IN !FGHANISTAN BROKE -ILLIONS OF VOTERS WAITED PATIENTLY IN RAIN AND SNOW TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE FIRST EVER ELECTION FOR A (EAD OF 3TATE )N (ERAT HUNDREDS OF WOMEN BARGED INTO A POLLING STATION WHEN ITS OPENING WAS DELAYED MUCH TO THE AMUSEMENT OF THE POLICE STANDING GUARD -ORE THAN EIGHT MILLION !FGHANS NEAR LY THREE QUARTERS OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS CAME OUT TO CAST THEIR BALLOT DESPITE THREATS TO THEIR LIVES BY 4ALIBAN REMNANTS AND AL 1AEDA 4HESE WERE NOT EMPTY THREATS AS EVIDENCED BY SPORADIC ELECTION RELATED VIOLENCE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THE DISCOVERY OF CACHES OF EXPLOSIVES AND WEAPONS ON THE EVE OF THE POLLS AND THE KIDNAPPING OF THREE 5NITED .ATIONS ELECTION PERSONNEL WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED TRAGICALLY 4HANKFULLY ON ELECTION DAY ITSELF AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT BY THE !FGHAN .ATIONAL !RMY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE AND POLICE SUPPORTED BY .!4/ S )NTERNATIONAL 3ECURITY !SSISTANCE &ORCE AND THE 5 3 LED #OALITION &ORCES #OMMAND CREATED A

SECURE ENVIRONMENT 4HE /3#% BROKE NEW GROUND IN !FGHANISTAN &OR THE FIRST TIME IT DEPLOYED AN ELECTION TEAM TO ONE OF ITS TEN 0ARTNERS FOR #O OPERATION 4HE CONCEPT OF HANDS ON ELECTION SUPPORT WAS NEW AND OBVIOUSLY THE UNPREDICTABLE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT POSED SERIOUS CHALLENGES 4HE ENTIRE PROC ESS OF REGISTERING VOTERS AND PREPARING FOR ELECTIONS IN A WAR TORN COUNTRY WITH A WEAK INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BOTH DANGEROUS AND COMPLEX )T WAS AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR !FGHANS AND IT WAS GRATIFYING TO ALL OF US WHO TOOK PART IN THIS HISTORIC EVENT THAT THE /3#% FIGURED PROMINENTLY IN ITS SUCCESS 4HIS WAS THE VIEW OF 0RESIDENT (AMID +ARZAI AND THE !FGHAN TRANSITIONAL 'OVERNMENT THE 5NITED .ATIONS !SSISTANCE -ISSION TO !FGHANISTAN 5.!-! AND THE /3#% 0ERMANENT #OUNCIL )N HIS LETTER OF .OVEMBER THE OUTGOING 5 3 3ECRETARY OF 3TATE #OLIN 0OWELL ALSO COMMENDED THE hEXTRAORDI NARY CONTRIBUTIONv OF THE /3#% S %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM %34

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$ECEMBER

TIONS HAD PROVED IMPORTANT SINCE MANY EXPERIENCED ELECTION OBSERVERS WERE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE KIND OF DETAILED ARM S LENGTH SCRUTINY USUAL IN OBSERVA TION MISSIONS OF THE /FFICE FOR $EMOCRATIC )NSTITUTIONS AND (UMAN 2IGHTS /$)(2 4HE CONCEPT PAPER DESCRIBED THE TASK AS hA CO OPERATIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MISSIONv WHERE THE /3#% S CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE IS ACTIVELY SOUGHT AND GIVEN 4EAM MEMBERS WERE ENCOURAGED TO POINT OUT SERIOUS PROBLEMS AS THEY OCCURRED AND TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW TO CORRECT THEM )N DRAWING UP RECOMMENDATIONS THE 3UPPORT 4EAM CONCENTRATED ON THE PARLIA MENTARY ELECTIONS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE SPRING OF 4HE /3#% TEAMS WERE INVITED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR %UROPEAN 5NION COUNTERPARTS JUST AS ) WORKED CLOSELY WITH 2ICHARD #HAMBERS HEAD OF THE %5 ELECTION SUPPORT TEAM AND &RANCESC 6ENDRELL SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE %5 IN !FGHANISTAN !S EXPECTED GIVEN THE VOLATILE SECURITY SITUATION THE DEPLOYMENT PLAN SHIFTED FRE QUENTLY DEPENDING ON EVENTS AND THE ABILITY OF 'LOBAL 2ISK 3TRATEGIES THE /3#% S CON TRACTED SECURITY FIRM TO PROVIDE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT )N THE END FOUR TWO PERSON TEAMS WERE ASSIGNED TO +ABUL EACH WITH A DISTINCT FUNCTIONAL FOCUS 4WO PERSON TEAMS WERE DEPLOYED TO THE REGIONAL CENTRES OF "AMYAN 'ARDEZ (ERAT *ALALABAD AND +ANDAHAR AND TO THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL &AYZABAD 4WO TWO PERSON TEAMS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE REGIONAL CENTRES OF +UNDUZ AND -AZAR I 3HARIF -OST TEAMS PAIRED A MAN AND A WOMAN /N ELECTION DAY %5 AND /3#% TEAMS OFTEN MERGED SO THAT WE COULD SEND TWO PERSON FEMALE TEAMS INTO POLLING STA TIONS FOR WOMEN / "

Ê --1 -

)MMEDIATELY ON ARRIVAL IN THE FIELD TEAM MEMBERS BEGAN MEETING WITH PARTY AND CANDIDATE REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION ADMIN ISTRATORS AND DOMESTIC ELECTION MONITORS AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS 7HILE THE /3#% S %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM WAS A LATECOMER TO THE SCENE COMPARED WITH THE %5 WE WERE ABLE TO ORIENT OURSELVES QUICKLY THANKS TO THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR TEAMS AND THE HELP PROVIDED BY THE %5 THE 5. AND THE ELEC TION ADMINISTRATORS THE *OINT %LECTORAL -ANAGEMENT "ODY *%-" AND ITS SECRE TARIAT !LTHOUGH THERE WAS MUCH UNCHARTED TER RITORY IN A COUNTRY WHICH HAD NEVER BEFORE ELECTED A (EAD OF 3TATE AND WHERE THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS WERE ILLITERATE AND HAD

$ECEMBER

ONLY THE VAGUEST NOTION OF THE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY A SURPRISINGLY HIGH NUMBER OF ISSUES WERE FAMILIAR TO US SINCE WE HAD PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED THEM IN ELECTIONS IN COUNTRIES IN TRANSITION s )NTIMIDATION AND SECRECY OF THE VOTE 4YPICALLY CANDIDATES AND THEIR AGENTS FUELLED RUMOURS THAT VOTERS CHOICES COULD NOT BE KEPT SECRET #OUPLED WITH THREATS OF RETALIATION BY WARLORDS AND TRIBAL LEAD ERS THIS CAUSED WIDESPREAD CONCERN !S A RESULT COUNTING WAS CENTRALIZED IN EIGHT COUNTING CENTRES AROUND THE COUNTRY INSTEAD OF BEING HANDLED AT THE VOTING CEN TRES OR AT THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL s !DVANTAGE OF INCUMBENCY (AMID +ARZAI WHO HAD BEEN SELECTED 0RESIDENT BY THE EMERGENCY ,OYA *IRGA IN WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE 5NITED 3TATES AND OTHERS USED HIS INCUMBENCY IN WAYS CRITICIZED BY HIS RIVALS FOR EXAMPLE BY INAUGURATING AID PROJECTS FINANCED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COM MUNITY DURING THE MONTH LONG CAMPAIGN PERIOD s )MPARTIALITY OF THE ELECTION AUTHORITY 4HE INCUMBENT S RIVALS WERE HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE SUPPOSED PRO +ARZAI STANCE OF THE *%-" AND ITS SECRETARIAT WHOSE !FGHAN MEMBERS WERE APPOINTED BY THE 0RESIDENT THOUGH ON THE BASIS OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY 5.!-! WHICH HAD BEEN WIDELY DIS CUSSED IN ADVANCE WITH INTERESTED PARTIES s -ULTIPLE VOTING $URING VOTER REGISTRA TION IT WAS CLEAR THAT MANY !FGHANS HAD ACQUIRED MORE THAN ONE hVOTER CARDv THE IDENTIFICATION WHICH IN THE ABSENCE OF A VOTER REGISTER HAD TO BE PRESENTED BY VOTERS AT POLLING STATIONS !LTHOUGH THESE MULTI

5. VOTER EDUCATION POSTERS ILLUSTRATING THE VOTING PROCEDURE INCLUDING THE FINGER INKING TO AVOID MULTIPLE VOTING FAR RIGHT

/3#% -AGAZINE

6OTING ON /CTOBER WAS RELATIVELY PEACEFUL 0HOTOS !LEXANDRE -ARION 3TEPHANIE "LEEKER "RIAN 3TEERS

&ACED WITH THESE CONCERNS THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM SET OUT TO REASSURE THE CANDI DATES AND THEIR SUPPORTERS THAT THE POLLING PROCESS WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE INTER ESTS OF ALL 4O THIS END ) GAVE A NUMBER OF PRESS INTERVIEWS AND STATEMENTS STRESSING THAT THE SECRECY OF THE BALLOT WAS PROTECTED AND THAT SAFEGUARDS CONCERNING THE INTEGRI TY OF THE PROCESS WERE IN PLACE +ABUL BASED EXPERT TEAMS BEGAN SITTING IN ON MEETINGS OF THE *%-" AND COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS AND HOW THEY WERE BEING DEALT WITH / "

PLE CARDS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OBTAINED BY VOTERS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES THERE WAS WIDESPREAD SUSPICION THAT MULTIPLE VOTING WOULD BE ORCHESTRATED 4HE USE OF INDELIBLE INK HAD BEEN ADVERTISED AS hTHE LAST LINE OF DEFENCEv AGAINST THIS SCENARIO 4HIS BACK GROUND SET THE STAGE FOR THE ELECTION DAY CONTROVERSY REVOLVING AROUND THE INK THAT WAS USED IN SOME POLLING CENTRES s 6OTE COUNT !LTHOUGH THE IDEA BEHIND CENTRALIZING THE VOTE COUNT IN EIGHT CENTRES WAS TO PROTECT THE SECRECY OF THE VOTE IT ALSO CREATED VULNERABILITIES REGARDING THE TRANSPORT OF THE BALLOTS FROM POLLING STA TIONS TO THE CENTRES AND THE SECURITY OF THE CENTRES )N SOME CASES ELECTION MATERIALS HAD TO BE MOVED BY DONKEY WHICH TOOK UP TO FIVE DAYS IN EACH DIRECTION s #OMPLAINTS AND APPEALS )N !FGHANISTAN THE SWORD REMAINS MIGHTIER THAN THE PEN AND THERE IS NO TRADITION TO SUPPORT THE FORMAL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES TYPICAL IN /3#% PARTICIPATING 3TATES 4HE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM CONCLUDED AT AN EARLY STAGE THAT PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS WERE INADEQUATE ESPECIALLY ON ELECTION DAY s %LECTION ADMINISTRATION 4O STAFF POLLING STATIONS IT WAS NECESSARY TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN MORE THAN ELECTION WORK ERS WHO TOOK ON SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL RISK PARTICULARLY WHERE THE 4ALIBAN OR LOCAL WAR LORDS HOSTILE TO 0RESIDENT +ARZAI S CANDIDACY HELD SWAY -ANY CANDIDATES DOUBTED THE IMPARTIALITY OF ELECTION WORKERS RECRUITED BY LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS OR hCOMMAND ERSv

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Ê 9

/N THE EVE OF ELECTIONS /CTOBER REPORTS WERE SPREADING THAT THE 4ALIBAN AND AL 1AEDA WERE PREPARING TO DISRUPT THE ELEC TION THROUGH SUICIDE ATTACKS ASSAULTS ON POLLING STATIONS AND THE LIKE !S THE /3#% MANDATE DID NOT REQUIRE DETAILED MONITOR ING IN POLLING PLACES 3UPPORT 4EAM EXPERTS WERE INSTRUCTED TO BEGIN VISITING POLLING STATIONS ONLY AFTER A M BY WHICH TIME THE DEVELOPING SECURITY SITUATION WOULD HAVE BECOME CLEARER )T WAS SOON EVIDENT THAT VOTING AROUND THE COUNTRY WAS TAKING PLACE IN AN ORDERLY PEACEFUL MANNER WITH BOTH MEN AND WOMEN EAGER TO HAVE THEIR SAY AND PATIENT LY WAITING IN LINES OF SOMETIMES UP TO MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE )N MOST POLLING PLACES /3#% EXPERTS AND OTHER MONITORS WERE HOSPITABLY WELCOMED BY VOTERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO WERE OBVIOUSLY PROUD OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT IN CARRYING OUT THE FIRST ELECTION OF A NATIONAL LEADER 4EAM MEMBERS SAW LITTLE EVIDENCE OF PARTISANSHIP OR INTIMIDATION TO MOST !FGHANS THE VERY ACT OF VOTING SEEMED MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHO WAS ELECTED 4O THE QUESTION OF WHAT RESULTS THEY WANTED FROM THE ELECTION A FREQUENT ANSWER WAS hAN END TO THE RULE OF THE GUNv AND A CURB ING OF THE POWER OF LOCAL hCOMMANDERSv AND MILITIAS 4HE FIRST SIGNS OF TROUBLE CAME AT MID MORNING ON /CTOBER WHEN THE *OINT %LECTORAL -ANAGEMENT "ODY AND THE /3#% HEARD REPORTS THAT THE INDELIBLE INK WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO BE THE hLAST LINE OF DEFENCEv AGAINST MULTIPLE VOTING WAS

$ECEMBER

EASY TO REMOVE IN SOME LOCATIONS (AMID +ARZAI S RIVALS QUICKLY MOUNTED A CALL TO BOYCOTT THE ELECTION )N PRACTICE THIS MEANT THAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR THE ELECTION TO BE ANNULED AND HELD ALL OVER AGAIN )N THE FACE OF MOUNTING Â&#x2C6; IF GREATLY EXAG GERATED Â&#x2C6; REPORTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ABOUT hCHAOSv *EAN !RNAULT 5.!-! HEAD CALLED A CRISIS MEETING TO DECIDE HOW TO REACT 4HE /3#% AND THE %5 OFFERED THEIR ADVICE WHICH WAS THAT CALLS FOR ANNULING THE ELECTION WERE UNJUSTIFIABLE AND THAT INSTEAD THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATES SHOULD BE OFFERED A CREDIBLE FORUM IN WHICH THEIR COMPLAINTS WOULD BE INVESTIGATED 4HIS DECI SION WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE *%-" THAT SAME AFTERNOON WHILE THE POLLS WERE STILL OPEN 4HERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE DECLINE IN VOTER TURNOUT IN RESPONSE TO THE hBOYCOTTv CALL !FTER THE POLLS CLOSED IT BECAME APPARENT THAT (AMID +ARZAI S RIVALS WERE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE ELECTION RESULTS AND TO CALL ON THEIR SUPPORTERS TO TAKE TO THE STREETS Â&#x2C6; A DISTURBING POSSIBIL ITY )T WAS CLEAR THAT THE INK PROBLEM AND OTHER IRREGULARITIES ON ELECTION DAY HAD NOT RESULTED FROM EFFORTS AT POLITICAL MANIPULA TION NOR WAS IT LIKELY THAT THEY COULD HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE OUTCOME !LTHOUGH THE MANDATE OF THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM DID NOT FORESEE A PRONOUNCE MENT ON WHETHER THE ELECTIONS MEASURED UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ) WAS ENCOUR AGED BY THE /3#% 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL AND THE #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS !T A M ON /CTOBER ) APPEARED AT THE +ABUL -EDIA #ENTRE TO ISSUE A STATEMENT DESCRIBING THE CALL TO NULLIFY THE ELECTION AS COMPLETELY UNJUSTIFIED AND URGING THE CANDIDATES TO MAKE USE OF THE hTHOROUGH AND TRANSPAR ENTv INVESTIGATION PROCESS OFFERED BY THE *%-" AND 5.!-! )N MY STATEMENT AND AT THE PRESS CON FERENCE THAT FOLLOWED ) STRESSED THAT h /CTOBER WAS AN HISTORIC DAY IN !FGHANISTAN AND THE MILLIONS WHO CAME TO THE POLLS CLEARLY WANTED TO TURN FROM THE RULE OF THE GUN TO THE RULE OF LAW )F THEIR ASPIRATIONS ARE TO BE MET DISPUTES ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF ELECTION RESULTS SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AS THE LAW PROVIDESv 4HE /3#% STATEMENT WAS FOLLOWED BY A SIMILAR ONE ON /CTOBER BY THE %5 SPE CIAL REPRESENTATIVE &RANCESC 6ENDRELL "UT BECAUSE THE /3#% STATEMENT CAME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEWS CYCLE ON /CTOBER AT A TIME WHEN THE SUCCESS OF THE ELECTION APPEARED TO BE HANGING IN THE BALANCE IT DOMINATED THE NEWS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

$ECEMBER

!FGHANISTAN AND AFFECTED THE ACTIONS OF (AMID +ARZAI S RIVALS !S THE STATEMENT SAID THE /3#% WAS NOT VALIDATING THE ELECTION RESULTS OBVIOUSLY THE VOTE COUNT HAD NOT YET BEGUN NOR PASS ING JUDGMENT ON THE MERITS OF THE COM PLAINTS #ERTAINLY THERE WERE IRREGULARITIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ISSUE OF INDELIBLE INK 4HESE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CONCLUSIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE FACTS AS DETERMINED BY THE INVESTIGATORS /N /CTOBER THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM AND OTHERS BEGAN CONSULTING WITH THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAD CALLED FOR THE ANNULMENT OF THE ELEC TION )T QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT TO MOST OF THEM THAT THE INK ISSUE ALONE DID NOT PRO VIDE A BASIS FOR THEIR DEMANDS THAT THE ELEC TION BE ANNULED 4HE CANDIDATES ATTENTION SHIFTED TO OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS VOTER ACCESS TO THE POLLS BIAS AND INTIMIDATION OF VOTERS BALLOT BOX STUFFING MULTIPLE VOTING UNDER AGED VOT ING AND ISSUES RELATED TO THE COUNT AND THE SECURITY OF BALLOT BOXES AFTER THE POLLS CLOSED -OST OF THE LEADING CANDIDATES INDI CATED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INVESTIGATION PROPOSED BY THE *%-" 4HE /3#% %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM AND THE %5 JOINED 5.!-! AND THE *%-" IN DISCUS SIONS ON HOW TO ORGANIZE AN INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL CANDIDATES /N /CTOBER THE *%-" APPOINTED AN IMPARTIAL PANEL OF ELECTION EXPERTS RECOM MENDED BY 5.!-! TO INVESTIGATE COM PLAINTS RELATING TO ELECTION DAY AND TO DRAW UP RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS OF RESOLVING THOSE COMPLAINTS 4HE PANEL CONSISTING OF #RAIG *ENNESS #ANADA 3TAFFAN $ARNOLF 3WEDEN AND $AVID -ATHIESON 5+ UNDERTOOK A THOR OUGH AND TRANSPARENT REVIEW OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITHIN ITS MANDATE AND SUBMIT TED A REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE *%-" ON /CTOBER 4HE CENTRAL CONCLUSION

!MBASSADOR "ARRY BRIEFS THE PRESS AT THE 5. PREMISES IN +ABUL 0HOTO !LEXANDER .ITZSCHE

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"ALLOT BOXES ARE COLLECTED PACKED AND DISPATCHED TO COUNTING CENTRES 0HOTOS "RIAN 3TEERS *ARED (AYS

OF THE REPORT WAS h4HIS WAS A COMMENDABLE ELECTION PAR TICULARLY GIVEN THE VERY CHALLENGING CIRCUM STANCES 4HERE WERE SHORTCOMINGS MANY OF WHICH WERE RAISED BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES 4HESE PROBLEMS DESERVED TO BE CONSIDERED TO ENSURE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS WAS PROPERLY REFLECTED AND TO HELP SHAPE IMPROVEMENTS FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS "UT THEY COULD NOT HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED THE OVER ALL RESULT v 4HIS FINDING WAS FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THE PRELIMINARY VIEWS OF THE /3#% %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM /N .OVEMBER AFTER CONSIDERING THE REPORT OF THE IMPARTIAL PANEL THE *%-" CERTIFIED (AMID +ARZAI AS THE WINNER OF THE ELECTION WITH A LITTLE OVER PER CENT OF THE VOTE &OUR OTHER CANDIDATES ALL TIED TO MINORITY ETHNIC GROUPS AND TO IRREGULAR MILI TIAS GARNERED MORE THAN PER CENT EACH )N THE WAKE OF THE *%-" CERTIFICATION MOST OF THE CANDIDATES GRUDGINGLY ACCEPTED THE VERDICT OF THE INDEPENDENT PANEL OF EXPERTS WHILE STILL INSISTING THAT THE *%-" WAS NOT AN IMPARTIAL BODY $UE TO THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS WAS DELAYED FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THE THREAT THAT SUBSTANTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE POPULATION WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ELECTIONS WAS AVERTED 4HE /3#% %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM AND THE %5 PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ACHIEVING THIS END )N MY EXPERIENCE AS THE HEAD OF PREVI OUS /3#% /$)(2 ELECTION OBSERVATION MIS SIONS THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND THE ELECTION

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AUTHORITY ARE USUALLY NOT SORRY TO SEE US LEAVE !LTHOUGH THEY MAY APPRECIATE THE CO OPERATION OF /$)(2 EXPERTS BETWEEN ELEC TION CYCLES THE CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMEN DATIONS NORMALLY PROVIDED AT THE MISSION S CONCLUSION ARE LESS WELCOME ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY SOMETIMES VALIDATE COMPLAINTS MADE BY THE OPPOSITION )N CONTRAST FAREWELL CALLS MADE BY THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM ON /CTOBER WERE UNIFORMLY POSITIVE /UR COMMENT THAT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS COULD BE HELD IN SPRING IF DECISIONS WERE MADE PROMPTLY WAS PARTICULARLY WELCOME NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE IT WAS THOUGHT THE NEW GOVERNMENT WOULD CHOOSE TO BEGIN ITS TERM BY DECIDING ON DIFFICULT ISSUES BUT BECAUSE THE RECOM MENDATIONS HIGHLIGHTED WHAT EXACTLY HAD TO BE DONE 4HE INVITATION TO THE /3#% TO CON TINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCESS OF DEMOC RACY BUILDING AND ELECTIONS WAS UNIVERSAL AND HEARTFELT ) HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE /3#% IN ONE CAPACITY OR ANOTHER SINCE THE 3TOCKHOLM #ONFERENCE OF )N MY OPINION NEVER HAS THE /RGANIZATION SO VIV IDLY DISPLAYED ITS FLEXIBILITY INNOVATIVENESS AND ABILITY TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO NEW CHALLENGES AS IN !FGHANISTAN ยบ / 6 - / ยปร * * , "

4HE CONTRIBUTION THAT THE /3#% WAS ABLE TO MAKE TO !FGHANISTAN S FIRST PRESI DENTIAL ELECTION WAS NOT EXACTLY WHAT &OREIGN -INISTER !BDULLAH !BDULLAH OR THE 5NITED .ATIONS !SSISTANCE -ISSION HAD IN MIND WHEN AN INVITATION TO hOBSERVEv WAS EXTENDED TO THE /RGANIZATION ON *ULY ! TRADITIONAL /3#% /$)(2 OBSERVATION MISSION INVOLVES SEVERAL WEEKS OF WORK BY A FEW LONG TERM OBSERVERS FOLLOWED BY ENOUGH SHORT TERM OBSERVERS TO COVER A STA TISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES ON ELECTION DAY -ORE IMPORTANT IT IS AN ARM S LENGTH RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH OBSERV ERS MUST AVOID ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROC ESS BEYOND CONCLUDING WHETHER OR NOT INTER NATIONAL STANDARDS HAVE BEEN MET !N INITIAL ASSESSMENT VISIT TO THE COUN TRY FROM TO *ULY LED TO THE DECISION THAT hOBSERVATIONv IN THE USUAL SENSE OF THE WORD WAS NOT PRACTICAL FOR SECURITY AND LOGISTICAL REASONS )N ADDITION AS !FGHANISTAN WAS NOT AN /3#% PARTICIPAT ING 3TATE IT COULD NOT BE HELD TO THE ELEC TION STANDARDS AS SET FORTH IN THE /3#% #OPENHAGEN $OCUMENT OF 4HE /3#% 0ERMANENT #OUNCIL S $ECISION .O OF *ULY ASSIGNED THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM THE TASK

$ECEMBER

OF ANALYSING THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN !FGHANISTAN AND RECOMMENDING SUITABLE ELECTORAL AND LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN ADVANCE OF PARLIAMENTARY PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS IN 4HE 4EAM WAS ASKED TO PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO VOTER REGISTRATION THE PERFORMANCE OF ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS VOTE COUNT AND TABULATION AS WELL AS THE COMPLAINT AND APPEALS PROCESS &OR THIS PURPOSE THE 0ERMANENT #OUNCIL APPROVED A TEAM OF UP TO ELECTION EXPERTS FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO DAYS !LSO INVITED TO OBSERVE THE %UROPEAN 5NION TOO DECIDED INDEPENDENTLY TO FIELD A $EMOCRACY AND %LECTION 3UPPORT -ISSION OF A SIMILAR SIZE .EITHER THE /3#% NOR THE %5 MISSION OR TEAMS FIELDED BY 2USSIA *APAN AND VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL .'/S COULD MAKE ANY PRETENCE OF PROVIDING A LARGE SCALE PRESENCE ON ELECTION DAY !T THE SAME TIME HOWEVER THE MORE FLEXIBLE MANDATES OF THE /3#% AND THE %5 COUPLED WITH INVI TATIONS FROM THE !FGHAN AUTHORITIES AND THE 5. TO PROVIDE ADVICE DURING THE ELECTION PROCESS GAVE BOTH ORGANIZATIONS A MORE ACTIVE ROLE TO PLAY THAN WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE WITH NORMAL hOBSERVATIONv 0RIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM S ADVANCE PARTY ON 3EPTEMBER THERE WAS A SECOND ASSESSMENT MISSION AND A VISIT BY /3#% 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL *ÉN +UBIÝ AND THE $IRECTOR OF HIS /FFICE $IDIER &AU 4HE AIM WAS TO NAIL DOWN SECURITY ARRANGE MENTS AND REACH THE NECESSARY AGREEMENTS WITH INTERNATIONAL MILITARY COMMANDS AND THE ELECTION AUTHORITIES ! KEY DECISION WAS TO CONTRACT A PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY WITH AN EXTENSIVE PRES ENCE IN !FGHANISTAN 'LOBAL 2ISK 3TRATEGIES '23 TO HANDLE LOGISTICS AND SECURITY MAT TERS ! '23 REPRESENTATIVE WAS TO BE WITH EVERY TEAM DEPLOYED AT ALL TIMES TO ADVISE ON SECURITY ISSUES ARRANGE FOR TRANSPORT AND INTERPRETERS AND PROVIDE SECURE LODGING ! SECOND KEY DECISION WAS TO FORMALLY VEST THE (EAD OF -ISSION WITH FULL RESPON SIBILITY FOR DECISIONS ON DEPLOYMENT OF /3#% PERSONNEL IN THE FIELD 4HE 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL AND THE /3#% #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE MADE IT IMPERATIVE THAT SAFETY AND SECURITY WERE TO BE THE MAIN CONSIDERATIONS IN CAR RYING OUT THE MISSION 4O ENSURE THAT THE BEST POSSIBLE ADVICE WAS AVAILABLE TO THE (EAD OF -ISSION THE /3#% S 3ENIOR 3ECURITY #O ORDINATOR $ECLAN 'REENWAY WAS ASSIGNED AS $EPUTY (EAD OF -ISSION FOR 3ECURITY 'RAHAM %LSON AN EXPERIENCED ELECTION ADMINISTRA TOR AND OBSERVER FROM THE 5NITED +INGDOM WAS $EPUTY (EAD OF -ISSION FOR %LECTIONS

$ECEMBER

-EMBERS OF THE /3#% %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM GET THEIR COMMUNICATIONS AND SECURITY GEAR READY 0HOTOS 6IKTOR +RYSHEVICH "RIAN 3TEERS

/ Ê * "9

)N PREPARATION FOR A CORE TEAM DEPLOYMENT ON 3EPTEMBER AN ADVANCE PARTY HEADED BY 0ROJECT -ANAGER -ARK %THERINGTON AND /PERATIONS #O ORDINATOR 0HILIP (ATTON ARRIVED IN +ABUL ON 3EPTEMBER )MMEDIATELY AFTER HEADING THE ELECTION MIS SION TO OBSERVE +AZAKHSTAN S PARLIAMEN TARY ELECTIONS OF 3EPTEMBER ) RUSHED TO 6IENNA FOR CONSULTATIONS ON 3EPTEMBER 4HE 5.!-! AND MOST /3#% PARTICIPAT ING 3TATES ADVOCATED AN ACTIVIST APPROACH TO THE MISSION WITH A CONTINGENT AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE AUTHORIZED BY THE 0ERMANENT #OUNCIL $ESPITE THE SHORT NOTICE AND THE HAZARDS INHERENT IN THE MISSION PARTICIPATING 3TATES RESPONDED BY SECOND ING SEVERAL DOZEN VOLUNTEERS MOST OF WHOM HAD EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND MONITORING OFTEN IN DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS !LMOST HALF OF THE VOLUNTEERS WERE WOMEN ! CORE TEAM OF WAS JOINED BY SECONDEES WHO ARRIVED IN +ABUL ON 3EPTEMBER /UR IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE ON ARRIVAL WAS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE SECURITY DEVELOP A MISSION CONCEPT DECIDE ON A DEPLOYMENT PLAN AND BRIEF AND DEPLOY THE TEAMS OF EXPERTS )T HAD BEEN CLEAR FROM THE FIRST ASSESS MENT VISIT THAT THE )NTERCONTINENTAL (OTEL IN +ABUL COULD BE MADE SECURE ONLY IF ADE QUATE PERIMETER SECURITY WERE PROVIDED BY THE !FGHAN .ATIONAL !RMY AND THE -INISTRY OF THE )NTERIOR $ESPITE FREQUENT ASSURANCES AS OF 3EPTEMBER PERIMETER SECURITY WAS STILL INADEQUATE 7E EXPLAINED TO THE

/3#% -AGAZINE

3HQIPE (ABIBI FROM +OSOVO PART OF THE 5. ELECTION TEAM SUPERVISES THE COUNTING AND REGISTRATION OF BALLOT BOXES ! FEW DAYS AFTER THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN SHE AND TWO COLLEAGUES WERE KIDNAPPED BY A MILITANT !FGHAN GROUP AND RELEASED FOUR WEEKS LATER 0HOTO /LIVIER D !UZON

!FGHAN AUTHORITIES THAT UNLESS STEPS WERE TAKEN TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM THE /3#% TEAMS SCHEDULED ARRIVAL ON 3EPTEMBER WOULD BE CANCELLED /N 3EPTEMBER A STRONG SECURITY FORCE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE HEADED BY AN !FGHAN GENERAL WHO REMAINED RESPONSIVE TO /3#% REQUESTS * , / , 9 Ê / " / Ê 7 9 Ê

- \ÊÊ

!S A LATECOMER TO THE SCENE THE /3#% %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM SAW ITS NICHE IN A CLOSE REVIEW OF IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESS AND LEGISLATION REQUIRED BEFORE THE PARLIA MENTARY ELECTIONS NOTIONALLY SCHEDULED FOR !PRIL -AY OF -OST OBSERVERS AGREED THAT THESE ELECTIONS WOULD BE MORE CONTEN TIOUS AND MORE DIFFICULT TO STAGE THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND MOST ELECTION EXPERTS FELT THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THE SPRING TIMELINE 4HE 3UPPORT 4EAM SET OUT TO EXAM INE THESE ASSUMPTIONS THROUGH MEETINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH POLITICAL ACTORS ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS INTERNATIONAL MILITARY FORCES AND OTHERS /N /CTOBER THE 4EAM PRESENTED ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO &OREIGN -INISTER !BDULLAH 3PECIAL 2EPRESENTATIVE OF THE 5. 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL *EAN !RNAULT AND THE *OINT %LECTORAL -ANAGEMENT "ODY AND ITS SECRETARIAT 4HE 3UPPORT 4EAM COMMENDED THE CON DUCT OF THE ELECTIONS WHILE OBSERVING THAT SHORTCOMINGS HAD BEEN ORGANIZATIONAL IN NATURE RATHER THAN BEING MATTERS OF PRE MEDITATED DISHONESTY (OWEVER IT STRESSED THAT POLITICAL WILL WOULD HAVE TO BE DEM

ONSTRATED BY 0RESIDENT +ARZAI AND HIS NEW 'OVERNMENT IF THE NECESSARY PRACTICAL STEPS WERE TO BE TAKEN THAT WOULD PERMIT HOLDING PARLIAMENTARY AND POSSIBLY LOCAL ELECTIONS IN THE SPRING OF !S OUR REPORT SAYS hINACTION WILL MAKE POSTPONEMENT OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS INEVITABLEv 4HE hROAD MAPv ACCOMPANYING THE REPORT POINTS TO BASIC DECISIONS CON CERNING THE METHOD OF ELECTION THE ELEC TION ADMINISTRATION S STRUCTURE AND A NEW IMPROVED PLAN FOR VOTER EDUCATION THAT MUST BE MADE DAYS IN ADVANCE OF ELECTION DAY IN OTHER WORDS IMMEDIATELY !LONG WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ELECTION EXPERTS THE /3#% %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM BELIEVED THAT THE SYSTEM PLANNED FOR PARLIA MENTARY ELECTIONS THE SINGLE NON TRANS FERABLE VOTE SYSTEM WAS NEITHER PRACTICAL NOR APPROPRIATE 4HE 4EAM RECOMMENDED A HYBRID SYSTEM IN WHICH A PORTION OF THE LEGISLATURE WOULD BE ELECTED FROM PARTY LISTS FOR A SINGLE NATION WIDE CONSTITUENCY WHILE THE REMAINDER WOULD BE ELECTED FROM MULTI MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES 3IMILAR SYSTEMS EXIST IN MANY OTHER TRANSITIONAL SOCIETIES "ECAUSE THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS WILL AFFECT THE POWER BASE OF ETHNIC LEADERS AND WARLORDS THEY WILL INEVITABLY BE MORE HOTLY CONTESTED THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS #ONSEQUENTLY THERE MUST BE INCREASED EMPHASIS ON ACHIEVING DISARMAMENT DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION AND ON ENHANCING THE CAPABILITIES OF THE POLICE AND THE !FGHAN .ATIONAL !RMY !S THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM S REPORT EMPHASIZES BEFORE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN THERE MUST BE A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE *%-" AND ITS SECRETARIAT AND AN EXPANSION OF THE SYSTEM OF ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS DOWN TO THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL 4HE SYSTEM FOR DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS MUST ALSO BE FUNDAMENTALLY STRENGTHENED 4HE /3#% CAN AND SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IN THESE CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS )N MOST CASES THE 4EAM S RECOMMENDA TIONS COMPLEMENT AND REINFORCE THOSE OF THE %5 SUPPORT MISSION AND THE IMPARTIAL PANEL ESTABLISHED BY 5.!-! 4HERE IS EVERY REASON FOR THE 5. THE %5 AND THE /3#% TO WORK TOGETHER ON THESE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE

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$ECEMBER

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7OMEN OUTSIDE A POLLING STATION IN *ALALABAD PROUDLY SHOW OFF THEIR REGISTRATION CARDS 0HOTO 3TEPHANIE "LEEKER

$ECEMBER

VER SINCE MY FIRST VISIT TO +ABUL LAST ING BARELY HOURS ) HAD ALWAYS BEEN ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AN IDEAL OPPORTUNI TY TO GO BACK FOR A LONGER STAY ! LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO ) WAS PART OF A DELE GATION THAT TRAVELLED THROUGH SEVERAL #ENTRAL !SIAN COUNTRIES WITH $UTCH &OREIGN -INISTER *AAP DE (OOP 3CHEFFER THE /3#% #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE IN AND NOW .!4/ 3ECRETARY 'ENERAL /N A SIDE TRIP TO !FGHANISTAN THE -INISTER MET 0RESIDENT (AMID +ARZAI AND DROPPED IN ON THE $UTCH TROOPS AT h#AMP 7AREHOUSEv OUTSIDE +ABUL 4WO THINGS STAND OUT VIVIDLY FROM MY INTRODUCTION TO +ABUL THE GUT WRENCHING NOSE DIVE PERFORMED BY THE 'ERMAN 4RANSALL TRANSPORT PLANE SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASING A SERIES OF ANTI MISSILE FLARES WITH A DEAFENING BANG AND THE DUSTY BROWN YELLOW COLOUR ENVELOPING THE LANDSCAPE IN THE WAKE OF ANOTHER SANDSTORM -Y NEXT FLIGHT TO +ABUL ON 3EPTEMBER IN A CIVILIAN 5NITED .ATIONS (UMAN ITARIAN !IR 3ERVICE PLANE WAS FAR LESS SPEC TACULAR INCLUDING THE SIMPLE SANDWICHES THAT WERE HANDED OUT "UT +ABUL S DUST WAS STILL THERE AND SO WAS THE OVERWHELMING

FEELING OF NERVOUSNESS AND CURIOSITY ) HAD FELT MORE THAN A YEAR EARLIER 4HIS TIME ) CAME WITH A MEMBER /3#% TEAM THAT HAD BEEN SENT BY THE /RGANIZATION S PARTICIPATING 3TATES TO ASSIST !FGHANISTAN IN ITS FIRST EVER PRESIDENTIAL ELEC TION AND TO PUT TOGETHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY POLLS SCHEDULED IN SPRING 7E ALL HAD TAKEN PART IN SEVERAL ELEC TION OBSERVATION MISSIONS 3OME OF US WERE ARMED WITH SPECIAL CREDENTIALS EARNED FROM PREVIOUS LENGTHY ASSIGNMENTS IN THE REGION 3EVERAL SPOKE $ARI OR 0ASHTU OR BOTH THE LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY THE MAJORITY OF !FGHANS -Y TASK WAS TO TAKE CARE OF THE INFORMA TION NEEDS OF JOURNALISTS WHICH ) KNEW WAS GOING TO BE DEMANDING CONSIDERING THE KEEN INTEREST OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IN THE !FGHAN POLLS 4HEY WERE THE MAIN EVENT ON THE GLOBAL NEWS AGENDA IT SEEMED TO ME IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE 5 3 ELECTIONS ) ALSO CAME WITH ANOTHER BRIEF )N 3EPTEMBER MY WIFE 'EORGINA HAD SPENT TWO WEEKS IN +ABUL FOR AN !USTRIAN .'/ TO SET UP A GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE TO CON VEY TO !FGHAN WOMEN AN UNDERSTANDING OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES ESPECIALLY THE CONCEPT BEHIND ELECTIONS -Y SUITCASE WAS CRAMMED WITH TRAINING MANUALS AND AUDIO CASSETTES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO LOCAL .'/S 4HE PROJECT WAS MODEST BUT FEEDBACK FROM THE TRAINING SEMINARS WAS HEARTENING 4HE WOMEN OF !FGHANISTAN WERE RARING TO VOTE 4HE SECURITY SITUATION WAS A MATTER OF SERIOUS CONCERN TO US ALL 7E HAD BEEN ASKED TO KEEP OUR HEADS DOWN AND OUR FREE DOM OF MOVEMENT WAS HIGHLY RESTRICTED 7E WERE ORDERED NOT TO VENTURE OUT ALONE IN THE CITY AND AFTER DARK 4HE CAR BOMB SUICIDE ATTACK AGAINST A 5 3 RUN SECURITY COMPANY IN +ABUL WAS MUCH DISCUSSED OVER DINNER AT THE (OTEL )NTERCONTINENTAL WHERE WE WERE STAYING 4HE FIRST FEW DAYS WERE SPENT IN BRIEF INGS BRIEFINGS AND TO WRAP UP THE DAY SOME MORE BRIEFINGS /N THE THIRD DAY FLAK JACKETS HELMETS AND COMMUNICATIONS GEAR WERE HANDED OUT 2EPORTS BY THE FIELD TEAMS FROM THE REGIONAL CENTRES VIA THE SATELLITE EQUIPMENT WERE TO BE RECEIVED AT THE hBASE CAMPv A ROOM ON THE HOTEL S FOURTH FLOOR &INALLY WE THOUGHT HERE WAS SOMETHING TO SET OUR PRACTICAL WORK IN MOTION 7E WERE JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVING THE KG JACKETS OVER OUR SHOULDERS AND FIGUR ING OUT HOW TO WORK THE SATELLITE PHONES WHEN ) STARTED RECEIVING THE FIRST CALLS FROM JOURNALISTS !S EXPECTED EVERY MAJOR INTER

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6OTERS INK IS APPLIED AT A POLLING CENTRE FOR WOMEN IN *ALALABAD 0HOTO 3TEPHANIE "LEEKER

NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLET FROM THE 5 3 BROAD CASTER !"# TO THE 'ERMAN WEEKLY $IE :EIT HAD SENT A TEAM TO !FGHANISTAN !LL SEEMED TO HAVE ARRIVED ON THE SAME FLIGHT DESCEND ING EN MASSE ON THE h)NTERCONv )NITIALLY THE MISSION MANAGED TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE BUT NOT SURPRISINGLY MEDIA INTER EST IN THE ROLE OF THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM GREW 4HERE SEEMED NO END TO INQUIRIES SO WE THOUGHT IT WISER TO HOLD A PRESS CONFER ENCE TO SPELL OUT OUR MANDATE RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO RESPOND INDIVIDUALLY TO EVERY

REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW 4HIS DECISION TURNED OUT TO BE A SMART ONE "ECAUSE OF THE DEARTH OF REAL NEWS STO RIES PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY Â&#x2C6; THERE WAS HARDLY ANY CAMPAIGNING GOING ON Â&#x2C6; SOME REPORT ERS TRIED SNIFFING AROUND FOR ISSUES WHERE THERE WEREN T ANY &OR A VERY SHORT WHILE THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN WHICH WE EXPLAINED THE MERITS OF A SMALL MISSION FILLED THE NEWS VACUUM /N ELECTION DAY ) WOKE UP TO THE MUEZZIN S CALL FOR THE FIRST PRAYERS OF THE DAY 'RADUALLY THE CITY TURNED ON ITS LIGHTS DISPELLING THE DARKNESS 4HE STREETS WERE STREWN WITH RED BROWN PILES OF SAND AND DUST REMNANTS OF A DESERT STORM AND THE AIR WAS VEILED WITH A THICK FOG ) WONDERED WHAT THE COMING HOURS WOULD BRING 7OULD THE PREDICTION OF OUR SECURITY SPECIALISTS Â&#x2C6; THAT THE VOTING WOULD BE MARRED BY VIOLENCE AND CLASHES Â&#x2C6; COME TRUE !S IT TURNED OUT /CTOBER WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE QUIETEST DAYS IN !FGHANISTAN S RECENT HISTORY +ABUL S STREETS NORMALLY CLOGGED WITH TRAFFIC WERE ALMOST DESERTED 7HILE THE CAPITAL WAS NEARLY INCIDENT FREE HOWEVER THE SAME COULD NOT BE SAID FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY 3ECURITY REPORTS DESCRIBED SHOOTINGS AND EXPLOSIONS )N A

!FGHANISTAN S WOMEN .O LOOKING BACK

ELEVISION FOOTAGE SHOW ING MASSIVE THRONGS OF !FGHAN FEMALE VOTERS AT POLL ING CENTRES QUEUING PATIENTLY OR BESIDE THEMSELVES WITH EXCITEMENT FLASHED AROUND THE WORLD -ORE THAN PER CENT OF ALL THE REGISTERED VOTERS WERE WOMEN AND AS LIKELY AS NOT MOST OF THEM EXERCISED THEIR RIGHT TO BE HEARD 7HAT DID !FGHAN WOMEN HAVE TO GAIN FROM THE ELEC TION )N FACT ONLY ONE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WAS A WOMAN Â&#x2C6; $R -ASSOUDA *ALAL A PAEDIATRICIAN AND ETHNIC 4AJIK WHO RAN ON AN INDEPEND ENT TICKET %ARLY EXIT POLLS SUGGESTED THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED ONLY PER CENT OF THE FEMALE VOTE MANY WOMEN WERE SCEPTICAL

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ABOUT HER hINDEPENDENTv STA TUS AND FELT THAT HER HUSBAND EXERTED CONSIDERABLE BEHIND THE SCENES INFLUENCE OVER HER &INAL RESULTS SHOWED THAT SHE RANKED SIXTH RECEIVING PER CENT OF THE VOTE !LTHOUGH SOME OF THE MALE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DID NAME A WOMAN AS ONE OF THEIR TWO VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATES NONE ADVOCATED A PAR TICULARLY STRONG GENDER RELATED AGENDA WHICH WOULD ANYWAY HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO IMPLE MENT IN !FGHANISTAN S TRADI TION BOUND SOCIETY &OR DECADES DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY COMPRISED SOME PER CENT OF SOCIETY !FGHAN WOMEN WERE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE THE MOST ORDINARY DECI SIONS AFFECTING THEIR OWN LIVES 4HE "ONN !GREEMENT OPENED UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD

FOR THEM 4ODAY WOMEN CAN GO OUTSIDE THE HOME ON THEIR OWN EARN A LIVING AND ATTEND SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY 4HEIR FIRST TIME PRESENCE AT THE /LYMPIC 'AMES IN !THENS IN !UGUST WAS A BREAKTHROUGH THAT WAS MUCH HERALDED AROUND THE WORLD 4HE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN WILL USHER IN EVEN MORE PROGRESS 4HE ELECTORAL LAW GUARANTEES WOMEN A PER CENT MINIMUM POLITICAL REPRE SENTATION IN PARLIAMENT .O MATTER HOW DRAMATIC THESE CHANGES ARE HOWEVER !FGHANISTAN S WOMEN STILL NEED TO STRUGGLE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE GIANT STRIDES TO CATCH UP WITH THEIR SISTERS IN MANY OTHER -USLIM SOCIETIES &ORTUNATELY THE CONCEPTS OF FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND GENDER EQUALITY ARE NOT A NOVELTY FOR !FGHANISTAN

ESPECIALLY FOR ITS EDUCATED URBAN POPULATION 4HEY HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE 4HIS TIME AROUND HOWEVER THE STAKES ARE HIGHER 4HERE IS NO TURNING BACK NO LEAVING !FGHANISTAN IN THE HANDS OF WARLORDS EVER AGAIN !FGHAN WOMEN WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERNATIONAL COM MUNITY SIMPLY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE THEIR DESTINY INTO THEIR OWN HANDSÂ&#x2C6;NOT MERELY THROUGH THE BALLOT BUT BY BECOMING DEEPLY AND POLITI CALLY INVOLVED IN THE REBUILDING OF THEIR WAR TORN COUNTRY AND IN ITS EVOLVING INSTITUTIONS -ASSOUDA *ALAL MAY HAVE EMERGED DISAPPOINTED AT HER PERFORMANCE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BUT SHE CAN BE PROUD TO HAVE BLAZED THE TRAIL

!LEXANDER .ITZSCHE

$ECEMBER

CLOSE CALL A TRUCK FILLED WITH GASOLINE AND A REMOTE CONTROLLED BOMB WAS INTERCEPTED BY POLICE IN +ANDAHAR %VEN SO IT WAS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT HAD BEEN WIDELY FORECAST ! COMMON THEORY WAS THAT EVEN THE !FGHAN MILITANTS WERE AMAZED AT THE LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM WITH WHICH PEOPLE HAD GONE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS %VERYWHERE LONG WINDING QUEUES LED TO POLLING CENTRES -ANY CITIZENS TRUDGED THROUGH INCLEMENT WEATHER SOME TIMES FOR HOURS ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MORE HOURS TO MOVE TO THE HEAD OF THE QUEUE )N THE MEANTIME IT EMERGED THAT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY MANY !FGHAN POLLING STAFF WERE ENCOUNTERING PROBLEMS WITH THE INDELIBLE INK THAT WAS MEANT TO MARK A VOTER S FINGER TO AVOID MULTIPLE VOTING A PRACTICE USED IN A NUMBER OF NEW DEMOCRACIES WITH MUCH SUC CESS )T APPEARED THAT THE INK HAD TURNED OUT TO BE LESS INDELIBLE THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN "EFORE WE KNEW IT SOME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES STARTED TALKING ABOUT VOTER FRAUD AND ANNULMENT OF ELECTION RESULTS $ESPITE THE ABSENCE OF VIOLENCE AND A MASSIVE VOTER TURNOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA EVER HUNGRY FOR A FRESH SPIN ON THE NEWS WERE COMPETING TO FILE STORIES ON THE hCHAOSv AND hTURMOILv IN !FGHANISTAN S FIRST EVER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

4HE DAY AFTER THE ELECTIONS REPORTS OF ANGRY DEMONSTRATORS FILTERED IN FROM CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY (AVING GOTTEN WIND OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A BOYCOTT OF THE ELEC TION AND THE ANNULMENT OF ELECTION RESULTS CROWDS WERE MAKING KNOWN THEIR DISPLEAS URE AT THE CANDIDATES AND THE OVERALL ELEC TION PROCESS !T THIS JUNCTURE THE /3#% TEAM FELT THAT THE MISSION COULD NO LONGER REMAIN SILENT )N +ABUL S NEWLY REFURBISHED !MANI (IGH 3CHOOL WHICH SERVED AS THE TEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CENTRE !MBASSADOR 2OBERT "ARRY THE HEAD OF THE %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM READ OUT A STATEMENT SUP PORTING !FGHANISTAN S *OINT %LECTORAL -ANAGEMENT "ODY IN ITS VIEW 4HE CANDI DATES DEMAND THAT THE ELECTION SHOULD BE NULLIFIED WAS UNJUSTIFIED (IS STATEMENT PROVED TO BE A TURNING POINT -ANY WILL REMEMBER LITTLE ELSE ABOUT THIS ELECTION THAN THE hINK ISSUEv "UT ONE IMAGE WILL STAY WITH ME FOREVER THE TRANS FORMATION OF THE !FGHAN LANDSCAPE INTO AN INTENSE BLUE SEA OF BURQAS AS THOUSANDS OF FEARLESS WOMEN FLOCKED TO POLLING STATIONS PUSHING AND SHOVING AND ELBOWING THEIR WAY TO THE BALLOT BOX

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%LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM IN !FGHANISTAN hREFLECTS POSITIVELY ON ALL OF USv 3EVERAL /3#% DELEGATIONS COMMENTED ON THE UNIQUE NATURE OF THE ELECTION ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO !FGHANISTAN AND COMMENDED THE EXEMPLARY CO OPERATION BETWEEN THE /3#% 3ECRETARIAT THE /$)(2 THE !FGHAN 'OVERNMENT AND THE INTERNATIONAL COM MUNITY 4HE DELEGATIONS WERE RESPONDING TO !MBASSADOR 2OBERT "ARRY S REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE /3#% %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM IN !FGHANISTAN 4HE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM SOME OF THE REMARKS MADE AT A MEETING OF THE 0ERMANENT #OUNCIL ON /CTOBER h$ESPITE THE CHALLENGING SECURITY SITUA TION IN !FGHANISTAN ;THE 4EAM= FULFILLED THEIR TASKS IN GOOD FAITH WITH DETERMINA TION AND WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT WITH NO CASUALTIES 4HE #HAIRMANSHIP WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK PARTICIPATING 3TATES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE OPERATION WITH PERSON NEL AND FUNDS 4HE FIRST /3#% MISSION FOR ELECTION SUPPORT IN A PARTNER COUNTRY AT A DECISIVE STAGE IN ITS DEVELOPMENT HAS PROVED TO BE A SUCCESSx h4HE /3#% HAS BROUGHT TO BEAR HIDDEN RESOURCES AND HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS POTEN

$ECEMBER

TIAL FOR RENDERING SUPPORT TO DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES OUTSIDE OF ITS OWN GEOGRAPHIC AREA )TS EXPERIENCE AS A NEW TYPE OF /3#% INSTRUMENT FOR ELECTION SUPPORT AND ASSIST ANCE TO A PARTNER COUNTRY IS AN IMPORTANT ASSET FOR THE /RGANIZATION v "ULGARIAN #HAIRMANSHIP h7E SEE GREAT VALUE IN DRAWING LESSONS FROM THIS EXPERIENCE PARTICULARLY WITH A VIEW TO PLANNING FOR THE UPCOMING PARLIA MENTARY ELECTIONS v $ELEGATION OF #ANADA h4HE %UROPEAN 5NION IS PLEASED WITH THE CLOSE CO OPERATION BETWEEN THE /3#% %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM AND THE %UROPEAN 5NION MISSIONS ON THE GROUND IN LINE WITH THE EXCELLENT CO OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE %5 AND THE /3#% GENERALLY v .ETHERLANDS 0RESIDENCY OF THE %UROPEAN 5NION h3OME OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY REMEMBER THAT MY DELEGATION WAS INSISTENT ON CALL ING THIS A @TEAM RATHER THAN A @MISSION !ND ) AM GLAD TO SAY THAT TOGETHER WITH THE WORD @TEAM THE NOTION OF @SUPPORT TOOK HOLD SINCE WE DID NOT CONSIDER IT A CLASSIC MISSION (OWEVER THE ONLY DANGER

HERE IS THAT WHILE THE NOTION OF ASSIST ANCE IS A VERY LEGITIMATE ALTERNATIVE TO SIMPLE MONITORING WE MUST BE ALSO CARE FUL THAT TOGETHER WITH ASSISTANCE WE DO NOT INDIRECTLY GIVE OURSELVES THE RIGHT TO PLAY A VALIDATING ROLE x 3O BEFORE WE THINK ABOUT DUPLICATING THIS MODEL ) THINK WE NEED TO REFLECT A LITTLE BIT ON WHERE THE MANDATE CROSSES THE LINE BETWEEN MONITORING ASSISTANCE AND VALIDATION v $ELEGATION OF !RMENIA h4HE /3#% S DECISION TO SEND AN %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM TO !FGHANISTAN EMBODIES THE VERY BEST OF WHAT THE /RGANIZATION IS ALL ABOUT )T MAKES US PROUD FOR THE /3#% TO BE AN IMPORTANT PARTICIPANT ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE 4HE HISTORIC ELECTION IN !FGHANISTAN WAS IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THE TERM A CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY BUILDING MEASURE AND OUR /RGANIZATION RESPONDED TO A DIRECT REQUEST FROM THE !FGHAN 'OVERNMENT TO LEND SUPPORT TO THIS EFFORT 4HE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE !FGHAN %LECTION 3UPPORT 4EAM S MISSION IS A REAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE /3#% AND ONE THAT REFLECTS POSITIVELY ON ALL OF US v $ELEGATION OF THE 5NITED 3TATES

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ASHINGTON $ # .OVEMBER P M 4HE RED LIGHT IS ON +OJO .NAMDI S DAILY TWO HOUR RADIO SHOW ON 7!-5 &- IS ON THE AIR WHEN ) SNEAK INTO THE STUDIO ON THE !MERICAN 5NIVERSITY CAMPUS AFTER HAV ING BEEN CAUGHT IN THE 5 3 CAPITAL S NOON DAY TRAFFIC SNARL +OJO AN IMMIGRANT FROM 'UYANA WHO HAS BEEN RATED BY THE 7ASHINGTON 0OST AS hMAYBE THE BEST INTERVIEWER IN TOWNv KEEPS HIS COOL ABOUT THE DELAY (IS OTHER GUEST IS TRYING TO CONVINCE RADIO LISTENERS THAT THE /3#% S OBSERVATION OF THE 5 3 ELEC TION IS A hTHREAT TO 5 3 SOVEREIGNTYv AND THAT hTRANSPARENCY DOES NOT NECESSARILY WORK BOTH WAYSv 4HE LANDMARK #OPENHAGEN $OCUMENT OF WHICH OBLIGATES PARTICIPATING 3TATES

IN THE /RGANIZATION TO OBSERVE EACH OTHER S ELECTORAL PROCESSES IS CENTRAL TO ANY EXPLA NATION OF THE /3#% S ROLE -OST PEOPLE WHO CALL INTO THE SHOW SEEM TO APPRECIATE THIS BACKGROUND BUT MY FELLOW GUEST REMAINS SCEPTICAL 4HE +OJO .NAMDI 3HOW WAS JUST ONE OF MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ANSWER THREE BASIC QUESTIONS WE WERE BEING ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN CONNECTION WITH OUR PRES ENCE AT THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION IN THE 5NITED 3TATES 7HY ARE YOU HERE 7HAT WILL YOU DO !ND WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY #ONTRARY TO POPULAR MISCONCEPTION IT WAS NOT EXACTLY THE FIRST TIME THAT THE /3#% S 7ARSAW BASED /FFICE FOR $EMOCRATIC )NSTITUTIONS AND (UMAN 2IGHTS /$)(2 WAS ASSESSING THE ELECTION PROCESS IN THE 5NITED 3TATES $URING THE MID TERM POLLS IN A TEAM OF TEN ELECTION EXPERTS REVIEWED SOME OF THE REFORMS THAT HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN &LORIDA FOLLOWING THE PRESI DENTIAL ELECTION IN 3INCE THAT MISSION THE 5NITED 3TATES HAS PURSUED FURTHER REFORMS UNDER THE (ELP !MERICA 6OTE !CT (!6! OF WHICH INTRODUCED FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO REGULATE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF THE NATIONAL ELECTION PROCESS 7HEN ONE OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST DEMOCRACIES IN THE WORLD UNDERTAKES SIGNIFICANT REFORMS IN ITS ELECTORAL SYSTEM THE REST OF THE WORLD IS BOUND TO BE INTERESTED AND NOT LEAST OF ALL THE /$)(2 WHICH HAS OBSERVED CLOSE TO ELECTIONS IN THE PAST DECADE &URTHERMORE THE (!6! ADDRESSES A WIDE RANGE OF POLLING ISSUES THAT MANY OF THE /3#% S PARTICIPATING 3TATES ARE EITHER ALSO TACKLING OR HAVE GAINED SOME EXPERTISE IN ,ED BY UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR 2ITA 3àSSMUTH A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE 'ERMAN "UNDESTAG AN /3#% /$()2 TEAM WENT TO THE 5NITED 3TATES IN EARLY /CTOBER TO TAKE A DETAILED LOOK AT THE IMPLEMENTA TION OF THE (!6! 4HEY ALSO FOLLOWED UP OTHER ISSUES THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN IDENTI FIED BY OUR ELECTION EXPERTS DURING A VISIT TO THE 5NITED 3TATES IN 3EPTEMBER /N .OVEMBER THE /3#% /$)(2 ANNOUNCED ITS PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE CONDUCT OF THE ELECTIONS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE .ATIONAL 0RESS #LUB IN 7ASHINGTON $ # !S IS CUSTOMARY THIS WAS DONE IN CO OPERATION WITH THE /3#% 0ARLIAMENTARY !SSEMBLY )N KEEPING WITH USUAL PRACTICE THE /3#% /$)(2 EXPERTS FOCUSED ON THE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF THE ELECTION

$ECEMBER

ERS THAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE (OWEVER THE FACT THAT ELECTION SYSTEMS ARE DIFFERENT FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY DOES NOT MEAN THAT ONE IS PREFERRED OVER ANOTHER !LL ARE BASED ON THE SAME VALUES RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW RESPECT FOR THE POPULAR VOTE 7HAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THE SYSTEM IS TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT VOTERS HAVE PLACED THEIR TRUST IN IT v 4HE MISSION CONCLUDED THAT THE ELECTIONS HAD BEEN CONDUCTED IN AN ENVIRONMENT REFLECTING A LONG STANDING DEMOCRATIC TRADI TION COMPRISING INSTITUTIONS GOVERNED BY THE RULE OF LAW FREE AND PROFESSIONAL MEDIA AND AN ACTIVE CIVIL SOCIETY INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE ELECTION PROCESS 4HE MIS SION ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT THE (ELP !MERICA 6OTE !CT COULD BE VIEWED AS A PROCESS RATH ER THAN AS A FINAL LEGISLATIVE STEP DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE REMAINING ISSUES THAT HAD GENERATED THE ISSUE OF ELECTORAL REFORM IN THE 5NITED 3TATES /VERALL ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA AND SOME OTHERS SEEMED CONTENT WITH THE MISSION S FINDINGS SOME MADE KNOWN THEIR DISAP POINTMENT WITH THE LACK OF OUTRIGHT CRITI CISM OF THE PROCESS h7ELL ) GUESS IT IS GOOD NEWS v SAID A TELEVISION PRODUCER WITH A SIGH hWHICH MEANS NO NEWS v "UT FOR US ON THE MISSION THE REALLY GOOD NEWS WAS THAT WE FOUND A READY MADE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THE /3#% AND ITS ELECTION OBSERVATION ACTIVITIES TO THE 5 3 PUBLIC 1À`ÕÀÊ Õ >ÀÃ` ÌÌ ÀÊ ÃÊÃ« iÃ«iÀÃ Ê vÊÌ iÊ "vv ViÊv ÀÊ i VÀ>Ì VÊ ÃÌ ÌÕÌ ÃÊ> `Ê Õ > Ê , } ÌÃ°

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AS WELL AS ON THE POLITICAL CONTEXT 4HEY PORED OVER LEGISLATION AND POLICY DOCUMENTS AND MET WITH ELECTION AUTHORITIES POLITICAL PARTIES AND .'/S AND EVEN WITH MANU FACTURERS OF VOTING EQUIPMENT )N SOME STATES LEGISLATION DOES NOT ALLOW FOR OBSERVERS IN OTHERS POLLING STATIONS ARE CLASSIFIED AS PUBLIC PLACES 4HE 5 3 %LECTION !SSISTANCE #OMMISSION AND THE 3TATE $EPARTMENT WERE OF TREMENDOUS HELP IN ENABLING US TO COPE WITH THE DAUNTING TASK OF HAVING OUR OBSERVERS ACCREDITED DAUNTING SINCE IT HAD TO BE DONE IN EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE AND SOMETIMES IN INDIVI DUAL COUNTIES BY OFFICIALS WHO HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT MYSTERIOUS ORGANIZATION CALLED THE /3#% 4HE SHORT TERM OBSERVERS MANY OF WHOM WERE PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM PARTICI PATING 3TATES WERE DEPLOYED TO #ALIFORNIA &LORIDA )LLINOIS -ARYLAND -INNESOTA .EVADA .EW *ERSEY .EW -EXICO .ORTH #AROLINA /HIO 6IRGINIA AND 7ASHINGTON $ # 3UDDENLY THEY FOUND THEMSELVES AMONG THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY #.. #"3 ."# AND THE ""# WERE LINING UP FOR INTERVIEWS *APANESE TELEVISION CREWS APPEARED AT EVERY TURN 4HE %UROPEAN MEDIA CALLED DAY AND NIGHT DESPERATE TO GET HOLD OF THEIR NATIONALS IN THE OBSERVER GROUP ,OCAL 5 3 NEWSPAPERS WANTED TO KNOW IF THEIR STATE HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR OBSERVATION WHILE THE LARGER 5 3 DAILIES STRUGGLED TO GET A GRIP ON WHAT ON EARTH THIS STRANGE /3#% CREATURE WAS ALL ABOUT 4HE HIGHLY DECENTRALIZED NATURE OF THE 5 3 ELECTION SYSTEM WAS NOT THE ONLY FACTOR THAT POSED A CHALLENGE TO THE /3#% /$)(2 %LECTION /BSERVATION -ISSION 4HE EVENT TOOK PLACE DURING THE MOST DEMANDING ELECTION SEASON WE HAD EVER EXPERIENCED 7ITHIN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS FROM MID 3EPTEMBER TO EARLY .OVEMBER WE OBSERVED SIX ELECTIONS SEE BOX PAGE WHICH INVOLVED DEPLOYING SOME ELEC TION OBSERVERS REPRESENTING A CROSS SEC TION OF /3#% PARTICIPATING 3TATES %LECTION EXPERTS WERE IN GREAT DEMAND AND WERE CONSTANTLY CRISS CROSSING THE /3#% REGION 7E WERE OFTEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE VALUE OF THE /3#% S OBSERVATION IN THE 5 3 ELECTIONS 0ROFESSOR 3àSSMUTH WAS ASKED THIS QUESTION AT THE POST ELECTION PRESS CON FERENCE 3HE REPLIED h4HIS WAS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES AND KNOW HOW AND TO GET AN INSIGHT INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE 5 3 APPROACH TO THE CONDUCT OF ELEC TIONS 4HE 5 3 SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT FROM OTH

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HE 5 3 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF PROVIDED THE /3#% WITH ITS FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SEND A COMPREHEN SIVE %LECTION /BSERVATION -ISSION TO THE 5NITED 3TATES ) WAS HONOURED THAT THE 0RESIDENT OF THE /3#% 0ARLIAMENTARY !SSEMBLY 0! !LCEE , (ASTINGS CHOSE ME TO LEAD THE 3HORT 4ERM %LECTION /BSERVATION -ISSION AND ASKED THE #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE TO APPOINT ME AS HIS 3PECIAL #O ORDINATOR 5PON THE REQUEST OF 0! 0RESIDENT (ASTINGS THE #HAIRMAN IN /FFICE ALSO APPOINTED )TALIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN 'IOVANNI +ESSLER AS MY $EPUTY 4HIS UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT FOR THE 0! WAS IMPORTANT TO OUR WORK 3INCE THE /3#% S /FFICE FOR $EMOCRATIC )NSTITUTIONS AND (UMAN 2IGHTS /$)(2 WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ITS USUAL LOGISTI CAL SUPPORT DUE TO THE LACK OF LONG TERM OBSERVERS IN THE FIELD THE 0ARLIAMENTARY !SSEMBLY S )NTERNATIONAL 3ECRETARIAT ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY NOT ONLY FOR CONDUCTING THE EXTENSIVE BRIEFINGS IN 7ASHINGTON $ # BUT ALSO FOR DEPLOYING THE PARLIAMENTARIANS AND ORGANIZING THEIR PROGRAMMES 4HE BRIEFINGS HELD ON #APITOL (ILL ON AND /CTOBER INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS BY THE 5 3 &EDERAL %LECTION #OMMISSION THE %LECTION !SSISTANCE #OMMISSION THE )NTERNATIONAL &OUNDATION FOR %LECTION 3YSTEMS AND THE 2EPUBLICAN AND $EMOCRATIC ELECTION CAMPAIGNS 4HE COMPLEXITY OF THE 5NITED 3TATES HIGHLY DECENTRALIZED ELECTION PROCEDURES WAS NEW TO MOST OF THE PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM %UROPE -EMBERS OF THE %LECTION /BSERVATION -ISSION WERE FULLY AWARE THAT THE COUNTRY WAS IN THE MIDST OF A CRUCIAL PHASE OF ELECTION REFORM &OR THE FIRST TIME NATIONWIDE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ELEC TION PROCEDURES WERE STIPULATED UNDER A FEDERAL LAW THE (ELP !MERICA 6OTE !CT +NOWN AS THE (!6! IT WAS APPROVED BY THE 5 3 #ONGRESS IN BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED /N /CTOBER PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM /3#% PARTICIPATING 3TATES WERE DEPLOYED NOT ONLY TO THE KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES OF &LORIDA .EW -EXICO /HIO AND -INNESOTA BUT ALSO TO -ARYLAND .ORTH #AROLINA 6IRGINIA AND THE $ISTRICT OF #OLUMBIA 4HIS DEPLOYMENT PLAN OFFERED A BALANCED PICTURE OF THE COUNTRY S ELECTION PROCESS ) MYSELF VISITED TEN POLLING STATIONS IN #LEVELAND /HIO /N ELECTION DAY MY PARLIAMENTARIAN COLLEAGUES FOUND THEMSELVES HAVING TO

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IBILITY NOT ONLY OF THE /3#% BUT ALSO THAT OF THE 5NITED 3TATES AS A PARTICIPATING 3TATE OF THE /3#% )T IS IMPOR TANT FOR THE /RGANIZATION NOT TO BE PERCEIVED AS APPLY ING DOUBLE STANDARDS IN THE OBSERVATION AND MONITORING OF ELECTIONS IN THE /3#% AREA 4HROUGHOUT THE MISSION S DURATION MY COLLEAGUES AND ) WERE LITERALLY CHASED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA IN THE 5NITED 3TATES AS WELL AS FROM OUR OWN COUNTRIES /VER AND OVER AGAIN WE HAD TO EXPLAIN THAT THE 5 3 'OVERNMENT HAD INVITED THE /3#% TO OBSERVE THE ELECTIONS POINTING TO THE COMMITMENTS LAID DOWN IN THE #OPENHAGEN $OCUMENT AND DESCRIBING THE WORK OF THE /3#% AND ITS INSTITUTIONS 4HUS WE WERE PER FORMING THE ROLE OF ELECTION OBSERVERS AS WELL AS AMBAS SADORS OF THE /3#% /N A PERSONAL NOTE ) MUST SAY THAT ) WAS IMPRESSED BY THE PASSION EXHIBITED DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL CAM PAIGN BY THE COMMITMENT OF CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS UP TO THE VERY LAST MINUTE AND BY THE PATIENCE AND RESOLVE OF VOTERS ON ELECTION DAY ) CAME AWAY FROM THE MIS SION WITH A WEALTH OF LESSONS THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO MY WORK AS A PARLIAMENTARIAN IN 3WITZERLAND >ÀL>À>Ê >iÀ }ÊÜ>ÃÊi iVÌi`Ê6 Vi *ÀiÃ `i ÌÊ vÊÌ iÊ"- Ê*>À > i Ì>ÀÞÊ ÃÃi L ÞÊ ÊÓää£°Ê ÊV Ì âi Ê vÊ L Ì Ê > >`>Ê> `Ê-Ü ÌâiÀ > `]ÊÃ iÊ >ÃÊLii Ê>Ê i LiÀÊ vÊÌ iÊ-Ü ÃÃÊ «>À > i ÌÊÃ ViÊ£ ä]ÊÜ iÀiÊÃ iÊ ÃÊ6 Vi *ÀiÃ `i ÌÊ vÊÌ iÊ ivi ViÊ 0ARLIAMENTARIANS "ARBARA (AERING

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IMPROVISE ON THE SPOT SINCE /3#% OBSERVERS WERE NOT AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED ACCESS TO EVERY POLLING STATION THEY WENT TO 4HIS WAS BECAUSE SOME STATE LAWS DID NOT INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS UNDER THE CATEGORIES OF PERSONS PERMITTED TO ENTER POLLING PLACES OR BECAUSE THE STATE LAW S LACK OF REFERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL OBSERV ERS WAS DEEMED TO BE AN OBSTACLE TO THEIR PRESENCE 4HESE HITCHES COULD NOT BE RESOLVED BY THE FACT THAT THE /3#% HAD BEEN INVITED BY THE 5 3 3TATE $EPARTMENT TO OBSERVE THE ELECTIONS &ORTUNATELY EXPERIENCED PAR LIAMENTARIANS ARE USED TO TACKLING DELICATE PREDICA MENTS AND ) BELIEVE THAT IN THE END WE DID ACHIEVE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE ELECTION OBSERVATION /N .OVEMBER TOGETHER WITH 2ITA 3àSSMUTH (EAD OF THE ,ONG 4ERM %LECTION /BSERVATION -ISSION ) PRE SENTED OUR PRELIMINARY POST ELECTION STATEMENT AT THE .ATIONAL 0RESS #LUB /UR KEY MESSAGE WAS THAT THE 5 3 ELECTIONS HAD BY AND LARGE FULFILLED THE COMMITMENTS THAT THE /3#% S PARTICIPATING 3TATES HAD SIGNED UP TO IN THE #OPENHAGEN $OCUMENT OF (OWEVER ) ADDED #ONGRESS AND INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD CONSIDER INTRODUCING LEGAL PROVISIONS ALLOWING OFFICIALLY INVITED INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO HAVE UNIMPEDED ACCESS TO ALL STAGES OF THE ELECTION PROCESS ) STRESSED THAT 5 3 ELECTION REFORMS WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE AND EVEN GO BEYOND THE (!6! ESPECIALLY CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS .ATIONWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION RULES AND NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR VOTING ROLL PURGES WOULD BE NEEDED #LEARER RULES FOR HANDLING PRO VISIONAL BALLOTS AND IDENTIFICATION AND FOR MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTING WOULD HAVE TO BE DRAWN UP -OREOVER ) DREW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE %LECTION /BSERVATION -ISSION HAD ENHANCED THE CRED

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HE PROBLEMS THAT CAN ARISE IN INTER ETHNIC RELATIONS VARY FROM CASE TO CASE (OWEVER ) HAVE FOUND THAT EDUCATION RELATED ISSUES CROP UP AGAIN AND AGAIN 4HIS IS ALSO WHY THE PREVIOUS (IGH #OMMISSIONER ON .ATIONAL -INORITIES DECIDED TO DEVELOP PRACTICAL AND COHERENT GUIDELINES THAT WOULD HELP LEGISLATORS POLICY MAKERS REPRESENTATIVES OF MINORITY GROUPS AND .'/ LEADERS TO INITIATE AND IMPLEMENT SUITABLE EDUCA TIONAL POLICIES IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS 4HIS DECISION LED A GROUP OF REPUTA BLE INDEPENDENT EXPERTS UNDER THE AUS PICES OF THE THEN (IGH #OMMISSIONER -AX VAN DER 3TOEL TO DRAW UP THE (AGUE 2ECOMMENDATIONS 2EGARDING THE %DUCATION 2IGHTS OF .ATIONAL -INORITIES

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KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR MOTHER TONGUE DURING THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS STARTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD !T THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BECOME INTEGRATED INTO THE FABRIC OF NATIONAL LIFE FOR EXAMPLE BY LEARNING THE 3TATE LANGUAGE ! TYPICAL DESTABILIZING SITUATION MAY ARISE WHEN AUTHORITIES SEEK TO SPREAD THE USE OF THE 3TATE LANGUAGE AS A TOOL TO ENHANCE NATIONHOOD AND WHEN A POWERFUL MINORITY COMPELLED TO ACCEPT THE LINGUISTIC DOMINANCE OF THE MAJORITY PERCEIVES IT AS AN ATTEMPT TO DOWNGRADE THE GROUP S LAN GUAGE "ADLY THOUGHT OUT REFORMS IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION CAN HAVE A NEGATIVE DOMINO EFFECT ON ETHNIC COMMUNITIES AND AS A RESULT ON THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE )F STU DENTS FROM A NATIONAL MINORITY ARE UNABLE TO GAIN ADMISSION TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING THE GROUP S POOL OF QUALIFIED LABOUR SHRINKS AND ITS ABILITY TO COMPETE IN THE LABOUR MARKET IS REDUCED 4IME AND TIME AGAIN ANALYSTS WARN THAT JOBLESSNESS AND AIMLESSNESS AMONG THE YOUNG IN MARGINALIZED SOCIETIES CREATE A FERTILE GROUND FOR HATRED INTOLERANCE AND RADICAL IDEOLOGIES !ND THE LACK OF QUALIFIED

PEOPLE REDUCES THE GROUP S OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE PART IN THE 3TATE S POLITICAL AS WELL AS ECONOMIC LIFE /NE VERY PRACTICAL AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDED LINGUISTIC SKILLS OF MINORITIES ARE PROPERLY HONED IS THROUGH MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION TEACHING PART OF THE CURRICULUM IN A SECOND OR THIRD LAN GUAGE

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#OMMISSIONER ON .ATIONAL -INORITIES THE 3OUTH %AST %UROPEAN 5NIVERSITY 3%% 5 IN 4ETOVO HAS ONLY JUST CELEBRATED ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY IN LATE BUT IT HAS ALREADY MADE A NAME FOR ITSELF AS A LEADER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE "ALKANS 4HE 5NIVERSITY S HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS ARE NOT ITS ONLY DRAWING POWER )T IS ALSO A SHOWCASE FOR INTER ETHNIC INTEGRATION AND CO OPERATION )T IS COMMITTED TO !LBANIAN LAN GUAGE AND CULTURE BUT ALMOST PER CENT OF THE STUDENT POPULATION ARE NON !LBANIANS )T HAS ADOPTED A %UROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL ORIENTATION WITH COURSES CONDUCTED IN !LBANIAN -ACEDONIAN AND %NGLISH )N (IGH #OMMISSIONER VAN DER 3TOEL WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE MULTILINGUAL ACADEMIC INSTITUTION 4ODAY IT IS FULLY AUTONOMOUS WITH BOTH THE FIRST AND THE CURRENT (IGH #OMMISSIONERS ON THE 5NIVERSITY S "OARD )N THE FIRST FRESHMEN WHO WERE ADMITTED TO THE 5NIVERSITY IN /CTOBER WILL OBTAIN THEIR BACHELOR S DEGREES THUS REALIZING THE CONCEPT BEHIND ITS CREATION TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF -ACEDONIAN !LBANIAN GRADUATES IN THE COUNTRY S UNIVERSITIES 4HE EARLY IMPACT OF THE 3%% 5NIVERSITY HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE 4HE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF !LBANIANS IN THE COUNTRY S UNIVERSITY STUDENT POPULATION HAS GROWN FROM AN ESTIMATED PER CENT TO MORE THAN PER CENT WITH A CURRENT ENROLMENT OF MORE THAN STUDENTS

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#OMMISSIONER ON .ATIONAL -INORITIES INTRODUCED THE 4RANSITION 9EAR 0ROGRAMME IN THE FORMER 9UGOSLAV 2EPUBLIC OF -ACEDONIA F92/- IN WITH THE SUP PORT OF THE 'OVERNMENT OF THE .ETHERLANDS 4HE 0ROGRAMME S AIM IS TO BOOST ETHNIC !LBANIANS CHANCES OF ADMISSION INTO THE STATE UNIVERSITIES IN 3KOPJE AND "ITOLA 3ATURDAY CLASSES IN THE -ACEDONIAN LANGUAGE WHICH ARE CONDUCTED BY TEAMS OF !LBANIAN AND -ACEDONIAN INSTRUCTORS HAVE BEEN GROWING IN POPULARITY )N THE SPRING OF MORE THAN PER CENT OF THE STUDENTS WHO ENROLLED IN THE LESSONS PASSED THE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS ! GROUP OF PROJECT PARTICIPANTS ALSO PRODUCED A HANDBOOK FOR TEACHING -ACEDONIAN TO NON -ACEDONIAN SPEAKERS

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0OLICIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE RELEVANT AND ACCEPTABLE IF MINORITY MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROC ESS )NCLUSION IN DECISION MAKING SENDS AN IMPORTANT SIGNAL OF THE MAJORITY S OPENNESS FOR DIALOGUE AND ACCOMMODA TION OF MINORITY INTERESTS &REQUENTLY HOWEVER ETHNIC COMMUNITIES ARE NOT ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED IN PUBLIC BOD IES AND INSTITUTIONS PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF EDUCATED MINORITY MEMBERS +YRGYZSTAN HAS REASON TO BE PROUD OF ITS 7ORKING 'ROUP ON )NTEGRATION THROUGH %DUCATION AS A MODEL OF MINOR ITY INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION MAKING #REATED BY 0RESIDENT !SKAR !KAEV IN AT MY RECOMMENDATION IT REFLECTS THE RICH TAPESTRY OF +YRGYZ SOCIETY &ACT FINDING TRIPS ALL ACROSS +YRGYZSTAN ENABLED MEMBERS TO TALK TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND TO REPRESENTA TIVES OF NATIONAL MINORITY COMMUNITIES

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.'/S TEACHERS AND PARENTS 4HE 7ORKING 'ROUP GATHERED AND ANALYSED VIEWS ON PROMOTING TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS THROUGH CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT LANGUAGE TEACHING TEACHER TRAINING MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION AND SPE CIAL TEACHING AIDS $RAWING ON INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND BEST PRACTICES THE 7ORKING 'ROUP ISSUED A REPORT WITH AMBITIOUS BUT PRACTICAL REC OMMENDATIONS AIMED AT FOSTERING SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND EQUALITY 0RESIDENT !KAEV HAS SAID THAT THE REPORT WOULD hOPEN UP A NEW PHASE IN THE ETHNIC POLICY OF +YRGYZSTANv

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4HE TEACHING OF LANGUAGES IS A CENTRAL ELEMENT IN MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION BUT IT IS NOT THE BE ALL AND THE END ALL ) HAVE ALWAYS INSISTED ON A BROADER MORE COM PREHENSIVE APPROACH ONE THAT ENSURES THAT THE CURRICULUM COVERS THE HISTORY CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF BOTH THE NATIONAL MAJORITY AND THE 3TATE S MAIN ETHNIC COM MUNITIES 4EXTBOOKS THAT IGNORE DIVERSITY OR WORSE PRESENT IT AS A THREAT TO BE FEARED AND ELIMINATED SERVE TO FUEL INTOLERANCE XENOPHOBIA AND ETHNIC STEREOTYPING AN EXPLOSIVE RECIPE FOR CONFLICT AND INSTABIL ITY WITHIN THE 3TATE

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3ERBIA HOME TO A SIGNIFICANT !LBANIAN MINORITY THE (IGH #OMMISSIONER AND A BROAD CROSS SECTION OF PARTNERS HAVE ESTABLISHED A #OMMISSION TO DEVELOP A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEXTBOOK ON HISTORY 4HE #OMMISSION WILL OVERSEE THE DEVELOP MENT OF THE CURRICULA FOR OTHER SECOND

AND THIRD GRADE SUBJECTS IN !LBANIAN LANGUAGE PRIMARY SCHOOLS 4HE #OMMISSION S FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING IN &EBRUARY WAS HAILED AS A SUCCESS BY PROJECT PARTICIPANTS THE 3ERBIAN -INISTRY FOR %DUCATION AND 3PORTS THE 3TATE 5NION -INISTRY FOR (UMAN AND -INORITY 2IGHTS IN 3ERBIA AND THE !LBANIAN COMMUNITY INCLUDING HISTORY TEACHERS !T A FOLLOW UP MEETING IN "ELGRADE IN *UNE THE #OMMISSION AGREED THAT IN ETHNIC !LBANIAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SOUTHERN 3ERBIA PER CENT OF THE 3ERBIAN HISTORY CURRICULUM WOULD BE DEVOTED TO THE HISTORY OF !LBANIANS AND THE REST OF THE !LBANIAN CURRICULUM WOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE 3ERBIAN CURRICULUM

4HIS LITTLE GIRL IN SOUTHERN 3ERBIA WILL BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED TEXTBOOKS 0HOTO /3#% -ISSION IN 3ERBIA AND -ONTENEGRO -ILAN /BRADOVI C

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$URING MY VISITS TO /3#% PARTICIPATING 3TATES ) NEVER FAIL TO STRESS THE NEED TO EQUIP TEACHERS WITH THE LATEST TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND TECHNIQUES )N FACT BOTH 'OVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND NATIONAL MINORITY LEADERS AGREE THAT THE QUAL ITY OF TEACHING HOLDS THE KEY TO THE FULFILMENT OF THEIR ASPIRA TIONS IN EDUCATION 4HE (IGH #OMMISSIONER ON .ATIONAL -INORITIES PROMOTES INTERACTIVE STUDENT CENTRED METHODS 4EACHERS ARE ENCOUR AGED TO THINK OF TRAINING AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CREATIVITY SELF DISCOVERY AND FURTHER LEARNING WHICH STANDS IN STARK CONTRAST TO TRADITIONAL METHODS /i > V i À Ì À > } ° /UR PROJECT IN -OLDOVA HAS BEEN TRANSLATING THIS CONCEPT INTO PRACTICE

.EARLY ALL TEACHERS OF -OLDOVAN AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IN GRADES TO HAVE UNDERGONE TRAINING IN MODERN TEACHING METHODS 4OGETHER WITH OUR IMPLEMENTING PARTNER THE PARTICI PANTS DRAFTED A MANUAL ON TEACHING THE 3TATE LANGUAGE

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! LITTLE BOY IN AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL IN "ISHKEK SINGS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM TO HERALD THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

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!N 5ZBEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL IN 3HYMKENT 3OUTH +AZAKHSTAN 0HOTO /3#% )GOR 3AVIN

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ALIKHA 3OTIBOLDIYEVA IS IN HER FINAL YEAR IN AN 5ZBEK LANGUAGE HIGH SCHOOL IN 3AIRAM A VILLAGE IN 3OUTH +AZAKHSTAN 3HE IS A TYPI CAL YEAR OLD GIRL IN MANY WAYS -OVIES TEEN MAGAZINES MAKE UP AND MUSIC ARE PART AND PARCEL OF HER DAILY LIFE (OWEVER WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE FUTURE HER SERIOUS AND REFLECTIVE SIDE TAKES OVER h-Y PARENTS TAUGHT ME TO ALWAYS GIVE A HELPING HAND TO PEOPLE IN NEED v -ALIKHA SAYS WITH PASSION AND CONVICTION h4HIS VALUE HAS BEEN DEEPLY INGRAINED IN ME AND IN OUR COMMUNITY 4HIS IS WHY ) HAVE MADE UP MY MIND TO BECOME A DOCTOR )T IS THE MOST NOBLE PROFESSION IN THE WORLD !ND CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY ARE SUCH EXCITING SUBJECTS v "EFORE THE BREAK UP OF THE 3OVIET 5NION MOST STUDENTS IN -ALIKHA S SITUATION WOULD GO ON TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES IN A UNI

VERSITY OR VOCATIONAL COLLEGE IN NEARBY 5ZBEKISTAN !FTER ALL ITS CAPITAL 4ASHKENT IS ONLY ABOUT KILOMETRES AWAY

)N THE PAST FEW YEARS HOWEVER 3OUTH +AZAKHSTAN S 5ZBEK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SEEING HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS YOUNG PEOPLE BEGIN TO SHRINK &OR ONE THING SENDING CHILDREN TO UNIVERSITIES IN 5ZBEKISTAN WAS PLACING A HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN ON FAMILIES !NOTHER COMPLICATING FACTOR WAS THAT WHILE 5ZBEKISTAN ADOPTED THE ,ATIN

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ALPHABET IN 5ZBEK LANGUAGE SCHOOLS IN +AZAKHSTAN CONTINUED USING THE #YRILLIC ALPHABET IN KEEPING WITH THE COUNTRY S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM -EANWHILE FURTHER STUDIES IN +AZAKHSTAN WERE ALSO BECOMING INACCESSI BLE )TS UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATION AND THE COURSES THEMSELVES ARE CONDUCT ED IN +AZAKH AND 2USSIAN THE COUNTRY S 3TATE AND OFFICIAL LANGUAGES 4HIS WOULD POSE DIFFICULTIES FOR ANY NEWCOMER WHO HAS SPENT YEARS STUDYING IN AN 5ZBEK MONO LINGUAL SCHOOL "ECAUSE OF THIS 5ZBEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE WAS JUST ABOUT THE ONLY FIELD OF -ALIKHA 3OTIBOLDIYEVA STUDY THAT ETHNIC 5ZBEKS COULD COMFORT EPITOMIZES +AZAKHSTAN S ABLY SPECIALIZE IN IF THEY WISHED TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION IN +AZAKHSTAN MULTILINGUAL FUTURE 0HOTO /3#% )GOR 3AVIN 4O EXPLORE A WAY OUT OF THIS DILEMMA THE /3#% (IGH #OMMISSIONER ON .ATIONAL -INORITIES LAUNCHED A SCHEME OFFERING SPE CIAL +AZAKH AND 2USSIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES IN THE VILLAGE OF 3AIRAM WHERE MOST OF THE RESIDENTS ARE 5ZBEK 3TARTING WITH 3CHOOL .O IN *ULY THE PROJECT HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED TO -ALIKHA S SCHOOL ALSO IN 3AIRAM %VERY DAY -ALIKHA AND SOME FUTURE UNIVERSITY APPLICANTS IN THE TWO SCHOOLS STUDY +AZAKH AND 2USSIAN TERMINOLOGY WITH SELF IMPOSED DISCIPLINE h7E HAVE A TOUGH SCHEDULE v -ALIKHA SAYS h7E HAVE TO STAY SEVERAL EXTRA HOURS AFTER SCHOOL FIVE DAYS A WEEK 9OU SHOULD SEE US CONCENTRATING AND CRAMMING FOR THE UNIVERSITY EXAM 7E KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY TO OBTAIN HIGH TEST SCORES IS THROUGH #

" DILIGENT STUDYING ) M THANKFUL THAT MY PAR ENTS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND DO NOT OVER # WHELM ME WITH HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND TRY TO SPARE ME FROM WORK IN THE FIELDS v ! 4EACHERS LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED IN " " MAKING THE CLASSES AS LIVELY AND AS STIMU

LATING AS POSSIBLE THROUGH LANGUAGE GAMES #

AND PARTICIPATORY EXERCISES )N A JOINT ACTIVITY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS COMPILED +AZAKH 2USSIAN 5ZBEK TERMINOLOGY DICTIONARIES IN SIX SUBJECTS BIOLOGY GEOGRAPHY HISTORY CHEMISTRY MATH EMATICS AND PHYSICS 4HESE HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE PERUSAL OF OTHER 5ZBEK LANGUAGE SCHOOLS IN +AZAKHSTAN ON THE )NTERNET AT WWW NATMINEDUKZ ORG h7E HAVE STARTED USING THE DIC TIONARIES AND HOPE THAT EVERY STU DENT IN EVERY 5ZBEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL IN +AZAKHSTAN HAS ACCESS TO THEM < -/ ½-Ê Ê / Ê ,"1*THROUGH THE )NTERNET WHICH IS TRULY / Ì> Ê >Ì > Ê« «Õ >Ì \Ê£{° Ê A FANTASTIC MEANS OF COMMUNICA 3OURCE 3TATISTICS !GENCY OF THE 2EPUBLIC OF +AZAKHSTAN #ENSUS

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TION v SAYS "AKHADYR .URALIYEV (EADMASTER OF 3CHOOL .O WHERE -ALIKHA IS A SEN IOR h7E RE EAGER TO CO OPERATE WITH OTHER SCHOOLS BOTH IN OUR NATIVE +AZAKHSTAN AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE REGION v &UNDED BY .ORWAY THE PROJECT HAS ENRICHED THE TWO SCHOOLS LIBRARY RESOURCES WITH HUNDREDS OF BOOKS AND MANUALS IN +AZAKH AND 2USSIAN #OMPUTER ROOMS HAVE BEEN REFURBISHED AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADED TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO USE THE ONLINE DICTIONARIES 4HE SALARIES OF SOME TEACH ERS AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE ALSO DRAWN FROM PROJECT FUNDS 4EACHERS WILL SOON BE TRAINED IN MODERN LANGUAGE TEACHING METHODS INCLUDING INTERACTIVE TECHNIQUES 4HE DIC TIONARIES WILL BE EXPANDED TO COVER MORE SUBJECTS AND EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THEIR ONLINE USE WILL BE STEPPED UP 4HE RESULTS THAT ARE EMERGING LOOK SUF FICIENTLY PROMISING FOR THE PILOT PROJECT TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER 5ZBEK LANGUAGE SCHOOLS IN +AZAKHSTAN WHICH HAVE A TOTAL ENROLMENT OF SOME STUDENTS 7HAT IS NEEDED NOW IS TO EXTEND THE SOLUTION TO AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE )N EVERY ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTRA CLASSES WAS ADMITTED TO ONE OF +AZAKHSTAN S UNIVERSITIES "IOLOGY MEDI CINE CHEMISTRY MATHEMATICS GEOLOGY INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND CUSTOMS LAW AND FIRE FIGHTING ARE JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY THAT ARE POPULAR AMONG MEMBERS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF h) HOPE THAT -ALIKHA AND HER CLASS WILL BE AS LUCKY WHEN IT IS THEIR TURN TO TAKE THE EXAMS IN *ULY v SAYS (EADMASTER .URALIYEV h*UNIOR STUDENTS NEED TO SEE THAT THE FUTURE IS UNFOLDING POSITIVELY FOR THE NEW GRADUATES IT WILL GIVE THEM THE CON FIDENCE TO CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO MASTER +AZAKH AND 2USSIAN 7E ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR MOTHER TONGUE !T THE SAME TIME TODAY S REALITIES CALL FOR MULTILINGUALISM ) M VERY PLEASED THAT WE HAVE MADE A START IN MEETING THIS MODERN DAY DEMAND v } ÀÊ->Û Ê ÃÊ ÀiVÌ ÀÊ vÊ > }]ÊÌ iÊ "Ê ÀiÃ« Ã L iÊv ÀÊ « i i Ì }ÊÌ iÊ Õ Ì }Õ> Ê Ìi>V }Ê«À iVÌÊ Ê-> À> °Ê > }Ê Ì ÀÃÊ ÌiÀ iÌ VÊÀi >Ì Ã]Ê«À ÌiÃÊi`ÕV>Ì Êv ÀÊ Ì iÀ> ViÊ> `ÊV `ÕVÌÃÊÌÀ> }Ê Ê Õ > ÊÀ } ÌÃÊ Ê- ÕÌ Ê >â> ÃÌ> °

$ECEMBER

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Ê Ì> > ÊÃÜ> ÊÃ }Ê !MBASSADOR ,ENZI VISITING 0ETRA *ORDAN S hROSE RED CITY IN THE ROCKv AFTER A -EDITERRANEAN 3EMINAR IN !QABA IN /CTOBER 9Ê 1 "Ê <

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WILL START WITH A PASSAGE FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE %CONOMIST h! 3WEDE A "ULGARIAN AND AN )RISHMAN MEET IN A MOUNTAIN VILLAGE GUARDED BY 'EORGIANS WEARING !MERICAN UNIFORMS 7HAT SOUNDS LIKE THE START OF A JOKE IS REALITY IN /MALO ON 'EORGIA S FRONTIER WITH 2USSIA WHERE EAGLES USUALLY OUTNUMBER FOREIGN VISITORS v 4HIS IS HOW ) WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE /3#% AN ORGANIZATION THAT REACHES PARTS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CANNOT PARAPHRASING THE FAMOUS AD OF A $UTCH BEER COMPANY AND HERE ) TIP MY HAT TO THE %UROPEAN 5NION 0RESIDENCY 4HE /3#% IS ALSO A HANDS ON ORGANIZATION WHERE PERSONAL EFFORT INITIATIVE COMMITMENT AND INVENTIVENESS DISPENSE WITH ANY STRUCTURAL AUTOMATA )T REMAINS THE EMINENTLY POLITICO DIPLOMATIC INSTRUMENT THAT HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THE FABRIC OF %UROPE OVER THE PAST YEARS 4HIS IS A PLACE WHERE THE ART AND CRAFT OF DIPLOMACY FIND THEIR MOST SUITABLE SETTING WHERE NETWORKING PREVAILS OVER HIERARCHICAL AND BUREAUCRATIC REFLEXES &OR MORE THAN YEARS MORE THAN HALF OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE ) HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITHOUT INTERRUPTION IN MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY .EVER HAVE ) BEEN AS COMFORTABLE AS IN THE /3#% WHERE THROUGH FAIR WEATHER AND FOUL WE MAINTAIN A STRONG SENSE THAT THE WORK WE DO IS WORTHWHILE )N FACT WE OFTEN BEHAVE AS THOUGH OUR PERSONAL INVOLVE MENT CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE 4HE /RGANIZATION IS NO &ERRARI RATHER A MOUNTAIN BIKE THAT IS MUCH MORE USEFUL ON RUGGED TERRAIN (OWEVER THIS IMPLIES A SHARED WILL TO RIDE IT AND STEER IT WITH HARDLY ANY ROOM AVAILABLE IN THE BACK SEAT )N TERMS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE A CONCEPT THAT HAS BECOME SO DEAR TO US ONE COULD SAY THAT ONE OBTAINS RESULTS FROM THE /3#% ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT ONE INVESTS IN IT 4HE /3#% S GOOD PRACTICES MAKE IT AKIN TO A PARTICIPANT SPORT WHERE ONE CAN SIT OUT THE ACTION FROM TIME TO TIME BUT WHERE ONE CANNOT JUST STAND PERMANENTLY ON THE SIDELINES AND THEN COMPLAIN THAT THE GAME OBSERVED IS NOT TO ONE S LIKING 4HE /3#% IS A WORK IN PROGRESS PART OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE SPECIES THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY IN EVERY OTHER INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ORGANI ZATION #OMPARED TO THEM THE /3#% MAY NOT PROJECT AN IMPRESSIVE SILHOUETTE AND ITS DELIBERATIONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY DECISIVE 'EARED AS IT IS TO THE PRODUCTION AND ASSIMILATION OF CONSENSUS IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER FROM THE PREVENTION OF CRISES THROUGH CONFLICT RESOLUTION TO POST CONFLICT REHABILITATION THE /3#% IS SERVING ITS VERY SPECIFIC PUR POSE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO %SSENTIALLY IT IS A POLITICO DIPLOMATIC BEHAVIOURAL MECHANISM ANOTH ER ONE OF OUR BELOVED BUZZWORDS BASED ON A GRADUAL WEAVING OF THE FABRIC OF INTERNATIONAL LAW !ND THE PRODUCTION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IS

$ECEMBER

WHAT THE WHOLE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS NOW ENGAGED IN UNDER THE NAME OF hEFFECTIVE MULTILATERALISMv WHICH EVEN THE %UROPEAN 5NION HAS EMBROIDERED ON ITS BANNER 4HIS WAS A WONDERFUL AND HIGHLY STIMULAT ING ENVIRONMENT TO BE IN ) WISH TO THANK MANY SPARRING PARTNERS HOLDING DIVERSE POSI TIONS WITH WHOM ) SHARED MORE EXALTING MOMENTS THAN DEPRESSING ONES WHO ALWAYS CHALLENGED ME TO FAST FOOTWORK )F THIS WEREN T A METAPHOR MY DOCTOR WOULD BE VERY HAPPY ) HAD TO TELL HIM THAT MY JOB IMPLIED LONG SIT INS AND EXPLAIN THAT THE /RGANIZATION RELIED ON A PROCESS OF SEDIMENTATION AKIN TO GEOLOGY CONSTANTLY PILING UP AND WASHING OUT IDEAS AND INITIATIVES BUT SLOWLY AND SURELY CHANG ING OUR LANDSCAPE !MONG NATIONS THAT IS NO MEAN FEAT THE FULL VALUE OF WHICH FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL RECOGNIZE ) LEAVE WITH THE CONVICTION THAT THE /3#% IS GOOD FOR THE %5 AS THE LATTER DEVELOPS ITS POLITICAL PROFILE AND ITS 3ECURITY 3TRATEGY &INALLY MY GRATITUDE ALSO GOES TO THE )TALIANS WORKING IN THE 3ECRETARIAT INSTITUTIONS AND FIELD OPERATIONS WHO ARE NOW MUCH MORE NUMEROUS THAN WHEN ) FIRST ARRIVED AND WHO HAVE ALL BEEN WORKING HARD TO PROMOTE THE GOOD NAME OF THE /3#% AND IN THE PROCESS THE REPUTATION OF MY COUNTRY 4O ALL OF YOU ARRIVEDERCI L>ÃÃ>` ÀÊ Õ ` Ê i â ]ÊÜ Ê>ÃÃÕ i`ÊÌ iÊ « ÃÌÊ vÊ i>`Ê vÊÌ iÊ*iÀ > i ÌÊ ÃÃ Ê vÊ Ì> ÞÊ Ì ÊÌ iÊ"- Ê Ê"VÌ LiÀÊÓäää]Ê`i ÛiÀi`ÊÌ iÃiÊ «>ÀÌ }ÊÀi >À ÃÊÌ ÊÌ iÊ*iÀ > i ÌÊ Õ V Ê ÊÓÓÊ Õ ÞÊÓää{°Ê Ê >ÜÊ}À>`Õ>ÌiÊvÀ ÊÌ iÊ1 ÛiÀÃ ÌÞÊ vÊ Ài Vi]Ê ÃÊ` « >Ì VÊ« ÃÌ }ÃÊ >ÛiÊ V Õ`i`Ê } iÀÃ]Ê >ÕÃ> i]Ê ` ]Ê ÃV ÜÊ > `Ê iÜÊ9 À °Ê À Ê£ xÊÌ Ê£ ]Ê iÊÃiÀÛi`Ê>ÃÊ Ì iÊ7iÃÌiÀ Ê ÕÀ «i> Ê1 ½ÃÊ ÀiVÌ ÀÊ vÊÌ iÊ ÃÌ ÌÕÌiÊv ÀÊ-iVÕÀ ÌÞÊ-ÌÕ` iÃÊ Ê*>À Ã°

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