Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Mission to Georgia
Technical Working Group (TWG), Parliamentary Elections 28 March 2004
Loose Minutes of the Meeting, 10 March 2004
- Update from the CEC
Today the CEC Chair presented a concept paper on future reform. The areas to be addressed include a reform of the electoral code; the establishment of the election administration as a professional election administration structure, including certified staff and an internal organisational reform (preserving the same three CEC/DEC/PEC levels currently in place); and the successful establishment of a civil register to serve as a basis for drawing data for a voters list. Email addresses where collected for those interested in receiving the concepts paper in its entirety as well as the delivered PowerPoint presentation.
Following questions the CEC clarified that the timeline for reform depends on the various stakeholders (particularly in the case of legal reforms), but that the reform of the election administration should start as soon as possible. Also, the CEC concept paper had been discussed at the CEC meeting last week and some of the points raised incorporated into the strategy.
On VL issues the CEC reported that the lists had been printed and sent tot eh DEC, who passed them to the PEC where they were supposed to be posted from 8 March. Except in a few places all were reported to have been posted. In Maneuli and Akhalkalaki lists had not been posted yet due to language problems – it is hopped that this will happen within the next couple of days. Ajara remains a special case and the CEC is having a meeting today at 1700hrs on the issue.
- Update on selection of PVT organisation.
UNDP briefly accounted for the selection procedure for the choosing the organisation to conduct the PVT. Both FEF and ISFED were invited to make presentations on their proposed PVT projects to a tendering committee composed of UNDP and OSCE as voting members (USAID, IFES (provider of computer equipment for PVT) played an advisory role). After due consultation it was decided to fund both ISFED and FEF for observation missions, while ISFED was chosen to conduct the PVT.
nGnI reported that training of regional coordinators had been concluded and tha training of observers had started. On 12 March nGnI at 1600 hrs a presentation of the observer mission is planned at the Opera House. TWG members were all invited.
IRI reported that training of political party observers is being conducted in Kutaisi and next in Telavi.
- Voter EducationProgrammes.
IFES Ltd. could report that their activities had been expanded from 6 to 8 regions. Each week some 1000 are reached per regions, making a total of about 13000 during the last two weeks. The interactive information sessions also include distribution of leaflets (shared with CARE and Mercy Corps).They are conducted in rural areas, last about 1 ½ hrs and target both genders, minorities, disabled and IDP. The participation of Azeri women in Kvemo Kartli has increased.
Mercy Corps reported that some 60-70 community meetings had been conducted so far (through its seven local partner organisations) and from the monitoring conducted by Mercy Corps they seem to be receive well and with a high degree of interaction.
Brief updates were provided by NDI, CARE, NRC,Eurasia Foundation. NRC will start to distribute brochures on voter’s rights to IDPs. Eurasia Foundation may support a programme for voting of the blind.
There seemed to be a general impression among the TWG members that voters appears interested but that the lack of political party activities will lead to a lower turnout this time.
Misc.
OSCE distributed the latest internal progress report on the Georgia Elections Assistance Programme as well as the Provisional Needs Assessment Report (NAR) on post-28 March reforms – further consultations on the content of the Provisional NAR was encouraged (consultants had meet with TWG members in mid-February and the findings of the NAR were presented a the TWG on 18 February).
Council of Europereported that 50 observers (staff and parliamentarians) will join the OSCE/ODIHR mission (the IEOM). In terms of activities, the CoE has distributed a code of conduct for election administration staff. Also, a training for students of journalism on unbiased coverage, etc. had been conducted a the Journalism Department of the University. In addition, sessions on party financing is planned; the CoE expects to fund part of the CEC public relations campaign; the SG of the CoE visited Georgia including a trip to Ajara.
Next TWG 17March, 4 PM.
Participants:
Ched Flego, UNDP
Keti Tskhomelidze, CEC
Rusiko Turmanidze, CEC
Silvana Puizina, IFES
Herta Echert, IFES Ltd.
Natia Berdzenishvili, IFES Ltd.
Natia Japaridze, CoE
Anna Morck, NRC
Steve Powers, Mercy Corps
Cate Johnson, USAID
Konstantine Magradze, FEF
Lasha Jugheli, FEF
Irina Sigua, ISFED
Giorgi Okziashvili, nGnI
Mark Lenzi, IRI
Lincoln Mitchell, NDI
Nino Jugeli, CARE
Maia Kipshidze, British Embassy
Willimijn Kallenberg, Netherlands Embassy
Carel Mofstra, Netherlands Embassy
Tamara Otiashvili, OSCE/ODIHR EOM
Luis Martinez-Betanzos, OSCE
Stig Kjeldsen, OSCE
Ian Smith, OSCE
Ecaterina Slavu, OSCE