it is primarily the responsibility of OSCE participating States to provide ODIHR with trained and experienced observers, ODIHR has started to assist them by providing observer training. Since 2006, ODIHR has followed a two-track approach to observer training that has included: (1) the launch of a new extra-budgetary programme on training election observers; and (2) the provision of continued ad hoc support to national training centres. The training programme assists participating States in their efforts to train observers and increases the level of professionalism of international observers taking part in ODIHR election observation missions. Training provides observers with necessary skills and underscores the need for a common approach in implementing ODIHR’s election observation methodology. As an initial step, the programme has focused on training short-term observers, but the Office has suggested new training to prepare long-term observers for their tasks and responsibilities. Since the first training course for short-term election observers was held in November 2006, ODIHR has trained more than 100 observers during three further courses in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in co-operation with the Training Section of the OSCE Secretariat and the OSCE Academy. Participants came from foreign ministries, non-governmental organizations, and central election commissions from 18 participating States. ODIHR intends to conduct two training courses for short-term observers and one for long-term observers annually, contingent upon extra-budgetary funding. ODIHR recognizes the national efforts made by some participating States to offer in-depth training to their observers before deployment to the field. In addition to the extra-budgetary programme, ODIHR supports national efforts to train observers. It also strongly encourages participating States’ efforts in this regard. In 2007, members of ODIHR’s Elections Department trained Austrian, German, Norwegian, and Russian observers to participate in future election missions. ODIHR also Curtis Budden Elections co-operated with national training centres such as the German Centre for International Peace Operations (ZIF), the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NORDEM), the Russian Diplomatic Academy, and the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR), as well as with the European Commission’s Network of Europeans for Electoral and Democracy Support (NEEDS). The Office also provided training to domestic observers from Turkmenistan on international standards for democratic elections and ODIHR observation methodology. These ad hoc training efforts complement ODIHR’s extra-budgetary programme and contribute to strengthening consistency and common standards for election observation. Annual Report 2007 Staff at mission headquarters in Chisinau receive report forms faxed from observers in the field during local elections in Moldova on 3 June. 19