The use of this practical "country to country" approach was the first in an ODIHR Rule of Law Project, and was enthusiastically received by both the Georgian and Polish participants. In order to measure the impact of the project on Georgian correctional institutions as well as its potential application in forthcoming projects, the third phase of the Georgian initiative will involve follow-up visits to Georgian institutions and a locally developed training initiative supported by the Programme for Co-ordinated Legal Support. ROUNDTABLE ON COMPARATIVE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS April 22-23, 1996 Skopje, Macedonia Rapporteur: Robert M. Buergenthal At the request of the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of St. Cyrill and Methodius University in Skopje, the ODIHR Programme for Co-ordinated Legal Support with the assistance of the OSCE Mission in Skopje and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) prepared a twoday program on comparative electoral systems. The objective of the activity was to review the electoral experiences of newly independent states, to examine the legal and legislative foundations of democratic development and to examine possible future technical and legal assistance programs in the FYROM. The program included discussions on the evolution of electoral legislation, election administration, electoral systems in Eastern Europe and citizen participation. The international experts participating in the activity included: Dr. Juliana Geran Pilon, IFES; Dr. Carlos Flores Juberias, University of Valencia; Bernard Owen, University of Paris; Paul DeGregorio, University of Missouri; and Brenda Pearson, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. CONFLICT IN TRANS-CAUCASUS AND THE ROLE OF MASS MEDIA 22-25 April 1996 Kobuleti, Georgia Rapporteur: Paulina Merino On 22-25 April 1996 in Kobuleti, Georgia a Conference on Conflict In Trans-Caucasus and The Role Of Mass Media took place. The conference was organised by OSCE ODIHR, OSCE Mission In Georgia, Council of Europe and the Black See Press Agency from Tbilisi. The participants represented media professionals from the Trans-Caucasus region and also governmental institutions responsible for creating mass media policies. The aim of the conferences was to develop awareness of and working recommendations for the journalists working in the conflict regions on the role that media can play in preventing and resolving conflicts. Another goal of these conferences is to give the journalists across the conflict borders an opportunity to meet, discuss common problems and establish personal contacts, promoting the exchange of information among the sides of the conflicts. The Conference in Kobuleti achieved its goals. As noted by the participants, the most important results of it were firstly, the possibility of re-establishment of contacts and channel for future communications among them and secondly, the conclusions they came to about the role, responsibilities and ethics of the journalistic work, and its influence on the peace-building process in their countries. The conference was a challenging experience. The magnitude of sensitivities constantly coming up, required careful negotiations which were conducted by the organisers. At the same time however, it provided a good working experience for the participants to learn, during the negotiations processes, to overcome longexisting communication difficulties, animosities and prejudices. OSCE ODIHR Bulletin Vol. 4 No. 3 33