MOLDPRES 19 January 2010 "The OSCE backs the new positive measures taken by the Moldovan authorities to peacefully solve the Transnistrian conflict. We back the actions carried out in the interest of citizens both publicly and via the OSCE reports." The statements were made by representatives of the group for Moldova of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, headed by Swedish MP Walburga Habsburg Douglas, at a meeting with Moldovan Parliament Speaker

Коммерсантъ Украина 19 January 2010 Международные наблюдатели положительно оценили ход первого тура выборов президента Крупнейшие миссии иностранных наблюдателей, аккредитованные в Украине, вчера заявили о соответствии первого тура президентских выборов демократическим стандартам. Наблюдатели признали, что на участках регистрировались нарушения — от голосования без документов до попыток подкупа — но все они не были системными и не повлияли на

ASSOCIATED PRESS By Douglas Birch 19 January 2010 KIEV, Ukraine - Opposition leader Viktor Yanukoyvch, the chief target of the 2004 Orange Revolution, took a big lead in the first round of Ukraine's presidential election over his rival, Orange heroine and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, officials said Monday. But that advantage after Sunday's vote could prove illusory when the two go head-to-head in the final round of voting Feb. 7. Many

NATIONAL POST 18 January 2010 Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was second with just under 25%, will face off against Mr. Yanukovych in a Feb. 7 run-off vote. "This was a good and competitive election and very promising for the future of Ukraine's democracy," said Joao Soares, head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's observer mission, in a statement. "I look forward to the continuation of this positive experience in

24.UA 18 January 2010 Сегодня, 18 января, ОБСЕ дала свою оценку президентским выборам в Украине, первый тур которых прошел накануне. "Эти выборы были очень хорошими. Это были высококачественные выборы", - заявил президент Парламентской ассамблеи ОБСЕ, специальный координатор миссии краткосрочных наблюдателей ОБСЕ Жоао Суареш на пресс-конференции в Киеве. По его словам, нынешний избирательный процесс является "шагом вперед по сравнению с

KYIV POST 18 January 2010 OSCE observers have said that the election laws of Ukraine must be improved and brought in line with the international norms and standards, Heidi Tagliavini, the head of the election observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, has said. "We would like to note that although some laws were adopted [in Ukraine's election legislation] nevertheless we insist that the legislative