ANNUAL REPORT 2004 Elections ODIHR Director Amb. Christian Strohal (centre) meets with an election official at a polling station in Malinovka during parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, 19 September 2004. The ODIHR also plans to provide continued support for arrived. Prior to the meeting, the ODIHR distributed a reform of election-related legislation and administra- paper entitled “Election Principles and Existing OSCE tive processes where necessary, applying its systematic Commitments for Democratic Elections” that served as approach to reviewing election legislation. Such re- a basis for substantial discussion. Recognizing that cer- views can enhance dialogue between governments, tain fundamental principles are necessary to instil con- political parties, and civil society in relation to elec- fidence in any electoral process, the meeting identified tions. An intended domestic-observer forum will fur- possible areas for supplementing existing OSCE com- ther facilitate such dialogue on electoral-reform issues. mitments, including in the areas of accountability, transparency, universal suffrage, and addressing issues The ODIHR will continue its efforts to diversify the staff raised by the development of new voting technologies. of election observation missions, including through the The ODIHR stands ready to assist participating States as voluntary diversification fund. This enables the ODIHR they further consider the need for a “Copenhagen to draw upon a rich diversity of experience and to en- Plus” document. hance relationships with electoral and other officials and NGO representatives from countries in South-Eastern, Central, and Eastern Europe that do not regularly second observers. In this regard, the Office will also explore additional outreach initiatives, including enhanced training activities for election observers. The possible need for a “Copenhagen Plus” document At the July 2004 Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting that focused on electoral standards and commitments, a growing consensus emerged that the time for additional supplementary commitments, in the form of a “Copenhagen Plus” document, might have 17