COPENHAGEN, 24 February 2010 -- The head of the OSCE election observation mission to the parliamentary elections in Tajikistan on 28 February, OSCE PA Vice-President Pia Christmas-Moeller (Denmark), arrived today in Tajikistan.

Pia Christmas-Moeller, leader of the Parliamentary Assembly’s delegation of over 50 election observers, has also been appointed OSCE Special Co-ordinator by the OSCE chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Kanat Saudabayev, for these elections. As Special Co-ordinator, she will lead the short-term OSCE observer mission, consisting of 150 observers, work closely with the OSCE ODIHR On-site Co-ordinator, and deliver the preliminary post-election statement on behalf of the OSCE at a press conference in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on Monday, 1 March.

“I am delighted to be here at this important and exciting time,” said Vice-President Christmas-Moeller upon arrival. “International observers have an important role to play, but it is up to the people of Tajikistan to ensure that these elections are an opportunity for progress.”

The OSCE PA observed the presidential election in Tajikistan in November 2006.

Pia Christmas-Moeller has been a member of the Danish parliament since 1987. An independent member since 2007, she was for many years a member of the Conservative Party, including its political leader 1998-1999, its political spokesperson 2001-2007 and foreign policy spokesperson 2005-2007.

She has headed several OSCE election observation missions in the past, including to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in June 2008 and March 2009. She served as deputy head of mission under President Joao Soares to the U.S. election in November 2008.

Contacts:

In Copenhagen: Klas Bergman, Director of Communications, Tel. +45 33378040; Mob. +45 60108380; Email: [email protected]

In Dushanbe: Andreas Baker, Press Officer, Mob. +45 60108030 or Local: +992 98 561 8107; Email: [email protected]