Elections Election Observation Activities in 2012 COUNTRY E LECTION T YPE E LECTION DATE MISSION T YPE 1 Kazakhstan Early parliamentary elections 15 January EOM 2 Turkmenistan Presidential election 12 February EET 3 Russian Federation Presidential election 4 March EOM 4 Armenia Parliamentary elections 6 May EOM 5 Serbia Parliamentary and early presidential elections 6 & 20 May LEOM 6 Greece Early parliamentary elections 6 May EAM 7 France Parliamentary elections 10 & 17 June EAM 9 Netherlands Parliamentary elections 12 September EAM 9 Belarus Parliamentary elections 23 September EOM 10 Georgia Parliamentary elections 1 October EOM 11 Lithuania Parliamentary elections 14 October EAM 12 Montenegro Early parliamentary elections 14 October LEOM 13 Ukraine Parliamentary elections 28 October EOM 14 United States General elections 6 November LEOM 15 Romania Parliamentary elections 9 December EET almost 40 short-term observers to take part in nine election missions throughout the year. The sustained funding and support from OSCE participating States for this programme is critical to ensuring a broader geographical range of expertise. ODIHR is tasked by OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 19/06 on “Strengthening the Effectiveness of the OSCE” (Brussels, 2006) to improve the work with various other organizations active in monitoring through the development of “a framework for co-ordination in this field”. Thus, on the basis of a 1997 co-operation agreement, ODIHR continued its co-operation with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly while also regularly working with other parliamentary partners, including the Parliamentary Assemby of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to observe election-day proceedings. In addition, the Office worked regularly, especially within the framework of the 2005 Declaration of Principles of International Election Observation, with other international governmental and nongovernmental organizations, such as the Electoral Assistance Division of the United Nations, the European Commission, the Carter Center, the National Democratic Institute and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, to promote common principles on international election observation. In 2013, ODIHR will host the 8th Declaration of Principles Implementation Meeting in Warsaw. In addition, ODIHR co-operates actively with the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission on legal reviews and continues to be involved in working with OSCE’s Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, amongst others, by sharing knowledge and experience on conducting election observation. Key Findings 2012 election observation missions identified certain positive developments in the administration of elections. Shortcomings, however, remain in a number of participating States. Problems encountered include: Attempts to limit competition: In many participating States, specific candidates and parties were left off of ballots or ­de-registered during campaigns. This is in contrast to OSCE commitments, which grant all citizens equal rights to seek political or public office without discrimination. Biased media reporting: Often, it is difficult for individual candidates and parties to get equal ODIHR Annual Report 2012 13