OSCE ODIHR mission begins monitoring Kazakh election

ASTANA, February 28 (Itar-Tass) - First long-term observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) began their work in Kazakhstan, the head of the mission, Daan Everts, told reporters on Monday after meeting with Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev.
Everts said 14 international experts on elections would work in
Astana. Besides, about 30 people will be sent to regions. Thus, about 45 long-term observers will work in the country, he said.
On the election say, another 400 short-term observers will arrive in Kazakhstan to monitor the course of the voting on April 3. He said the task of the mission is to professionally assess whether the Kazakh
election will be held in line with international standards.
The ODIHR official said that at their meeting, Foreign Minister
Saudabayev had pledged that the upcoming election would be the best in the history of Kazakhstan. According to him, the present state of affairs in the world is characterised by a lot of problems, and a positive example of Kazakhstan in holding the election will be important for the world. Evers said that he completely agreed with that.
Saudabayev, for his part, expressed gratitude to ODIHR for deploying its mission to monitor the election and said "the Kazakh Foreign Ministry is ready to create all necessary conditions for full-value and efficient work of the mission and contribute in any way in its contacts with the country's state agencies".
The nomination of candidates ended on February 20, and registration will continue till March 2. The election campaign will begin on March 3 and end on April 1. Voting will take place on April 3.