COPENHAGEN, 23 August 2010 – The International Secretariat of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has started to plan for a busy fall of election observations missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, the United States and Azerbaijan.

To lead the OSCE short-term observers to these elections and to deliver the post-election statement on behalf of the OSCE, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kanat Saudabayev, has appointed four members of the Assembly as OSCE Special Co-ordinators.

They are: Roberto Battelli to Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 October; Kimmo Kiljunen to Kyrgyzstan 10 October; Joao Soares to the U.S. 2 November, and Wolfgang Grossruck to Azerbaijan 7 November.

The four, all experienced election observers, will also serve as heads of the delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Mr. Battelli (Slovenia) is the PA´s Treasurer and Special Representative on South East Europe; Mr. Kiljunen (Finland) is the PA’s Special Representative for Central Asia; Mr. Soares (Portugal) is the Assembly’s President Emeritus, and Mr. Grossruck (Austria) is a PA Vice President.

Members of the Assembly should indicate their interest in participating in one or several missions by contacting the International Secretariat in Copenhagen and completing relevant registrations forms as soon as possible.