Lebedev: international observers important part of CIS political co-operation

International observation is an important part of political co-operation between the CIS states, said CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev in his welcome address to participants of the international conference marking 30 years of international election observation in the CIS (St. Petersburg), sb.by reports citing the CIS Executive Committee website

“International observation today is a key element ensuring open and transparent elections based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It’s an important part of political co-operation between the CIS states,” Mr. Lebedev said.

The CIS Secretary General pointed out that every CIS country has the institute of international observers enshrined in the law. That was done to make sure people can freely and independently choose their future, expecting at the same time that the electoral process based on the current national laws would be fair.

“The Executive Committee interacts with the Commonwealth countries and the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) when monitoring electoral campaigns, and that makes us able to do a relatively comprehensive analysis and objective assessment of electoral development in the CIS territories,” he clarified.

“Summarising and systematising our experience, analysing results of international observation over elections and referenda throughout the entire CIS space are of vital importance. It’s an opportunity to develop new approaches to international observers’ operations,” added Mr. Lebedev and expressed confidence that the recently created Advisory Board for heads of CIS states’ electoral bodies will do a lot to develop electoral processes throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States.