- Elections observation: reports and procedures; - Programme for Co-ordinated Support for the recently admitted participating States; (5) Outcome and improvement of the Human Dimension Seminars; proposals for the Seminars in 1994; - Assessment of the activities of the CSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and discussion on strengthening its role. It was pointed out that elections observation had a function beyond monitoring procedures: it also played an important part in ensuring that elections were free and fair, in achieving credibility for the results of elections, and in demonstrating the interest of other countries in democratic developments elsewhere. In this light, the dangers of giving credibility to undemocratic elections were stressed: a system of multiple candidates and a free opposition were necessary before elections observation would be meaningful. The meeting welcomed the announcement by the Russian delegation that they would be inviting election observers through the ODIHR. The importance of arranging international monitoring and assistance for elections in Georgia was underlined as a factor to assist stabilisation of the situation, and the decision of the CSO Vienna Group to send the Personal Representative of the Chairman, Ambassador Gyarmati, to the area was welcomed. Participants also spoke of the need for observation of the pre-election period, adequate preparation and notice in order to achieve effective elections monitoring. Delegations also informed the meeting of their own experiences of election monitoring, from perspectives of both monitoring and being monitored. The importance of NGOs and of domestic election observers was stressed. In view of the above discussion, the following are informal recommendations concerning elections observation: reports and procedures: - that participating States inform the ODIHR on an annual basis of forthcoming elections, and that they inform the ODIHR at an early date, in accordance with their electoral law, of impending elections; - that the ODIHR, in co-operation with the CSCE Parliamentary Assembly and relevant international organisations, mount a comprehensive election monitoring service for the all-Russia parliamentary elections on 12 December; - that the ODIHR continue to co-operate closely with the CSCE Parliamentary Assembly, NGOs, and relevant international organisations in the development and practice of election observation. In discussion of the programme of co-ordinated support for recently admitted states, appreciation was expressed for the activity of the ODIHR and of the Chairman in Office. Following her visit to the Central Asian republics in April 1993, participants welcomed her plans to visit the Transcaucasian republics. The following are informal recommendations concerning the programme: - that the Chairman of the CSCE Council be invited to present to the Rome Council suggestions concerning the programme of co-ordinated support in the light of her visits to the recently admitted states. Participants gave a positive assessment of the seminars organised by the ODIHR. Certain delegations circulated detailed proposals for the improvement of the seminars. It was recalled that the Helsinki Document foresaw seminars being held on migrant workers and local democracy. Proposals were also submitted for topics for new seminars, including national minorities with emphasis on extreme nationalism and xenophobia; the CSCE and human rights NGOs; participating States' policies on migration; migration, refugees and asylum issues with particular reference to the population displacements in former Yugoslavia; the rule of law; international humanitarian law; women; and, as suggested by the High Commissioner on National Minorities in the opening plenary, the Roma. In view of the above discussion, the following are informal recommendations concerning the outcome and improvement of the Human Dimension Seminars and proposals for seminars in 1994: - that the seminars foreseen in the Helsinki Document, on Migrant Workers and on Local Democracy, be held as planned before the Budapest Review Conference; - that, if time and the resources of the ODIHR permit, a seminar on the Roma also be held in 1994; that the other topics for seminars presented at this meeting be considered for inclusion in the programme for 1994 and thereafter; - that participating States make efforts to include relevant experts, from both inside and outside governCSCE ODIHR BULLETIN Vol. 2, No. 1 47