Pia Christmas-Moeller speaks at a pre-election briefing in Ankara.COPENHAGEN, 25 May 2011 – Pia Christmas-Moeller (Denmark) has been appointed the head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly election observation mission in Turkey – the first time the Assembly has sent a delegation to observe elections in the country. The country is holding parliamentary elections 12 June.

“Turkey’s dynamic progress has made it a major economic and political player in the OSCE area,” said Ms. Christmas-Moeller. “I look forward to leading our delegation to observe these important elections, which I hope will further strengthen Turkey’s democracy and allow the country to serve as a model to the wider region.”

Appointed by OSCE PA President Petros Efthymiou, Ms. Christmas-Moeller, an Assembly Vice-President and experienced election observer, last led the OSCE short-term election observation mission in Tajikistan in February 2010. The OSCE PA and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly delegations will attend briefings in Ankara before members are deployed for further briefings and observation in various regions of Turkey.

The organizations will deliver a post-election statement at a news conference in Ankara on 13 June. The election observation mission will assess the elections for their conformity with the OSCE commitments as stated in the 1990 Copenhagen Document, to which Turkey has subscribed.