ELECTIONS THE ELECTION FRAMEWORK FOR CO-OPERATION DOCUMENT Rapporteur: Helene Lloyd After much time and thought, the Election unit have finalised the contents of “the Election Framework for Co-operation” which outlines how ODIHR/OSCE is to execute its mandate and fulfil the objective of long-term election observation. Since July 1995, ODIHR has carried out more long-term observations with the Election Adviser or an ODIHR Co-ordinator arriving up to 2 months in advance of the date of the election. In order to implement its mandate successfully, the ODIHR/OSCE will need the collaboration of the participating States in providing long-term observers (those who stay up to 2 months) and short-term observers (those who arrive up to one week before the election) as well as Co-ordinators who will be able to lead the observers at the on-site office. The document reiterates that invitations to observe a given electoral process should arrive with sufficient time so that a long-term observation mission can be launched. The document also outlines how ODIHR intends to collaborate and harmonise its activities with other international organisations by providing briefing and debriefings around the election day and by providing a deployment plan. ODIHR will also continue to observe the freedom of the press and liaise with organisations which are specialised in this sphere. A good example of the implementation of the Election framework document has been the Presidential Elections in the Russian Federation. After having received an invitation from the Russian government in March, a needs assessment was carried out by Michael Meadowcroft, the OSCE/ODIHR Co-ordinator and Helene Lloyd, the Elections Assistant. The ODIHR/OSCE was able to set up an International Observer Office at the beginning of April and establish 6 regional observer posts manned by long-term observers by May. A Regional Co-ordinator and a Deployment Officer were provided by the European Commission with whom the ODIHR closely co-ordinated all their actions during the Russian Presidential Elections. EXTRACTS FROM THE ELECTION MONITORING FRAMEWORK I. INTRODUCTION - THE MANDATE In response to the Budapest Document, the ODIHR has re-oriented its activities to be consistent with the mandated objective for long-term election observation. The emphasis for ODIHR is now not only on election day, but also through the various stages of the election process necessary for a meaningful and democratic exercise. The original mandate entrusted to the CSCE Office for Free Elections (OFE), under the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (1990), was to assist new European democracies in establishing a tradition of free elections, to assist in electoral administration and in the writing of electoral codes. The Budapest Document broadened ODIHR election related responsibilities within the original mandate to include: C an enhanced role in election monitoring before, during and after elections; OSCE ODIHR Bulletin Vol. 4 No. 3 27