OSCE ODIHR to send over 400 election observers to Kazakhstan

ASTANA. February 28. KAZINFORM /Damir Baimanov/ The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights will send more than 400 observers to Kazakhstan to monitor the presidential elections.

Head of the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Kazakhstan, Ambassador Daan Everts said it after the meeting with Secretary of State-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev.

"14 international election observers will stay in Astana during the campaign. They will be involved in analyzing and monitoring the way the elections are held. Besides, around 30 people will be sent to the regions of the country. Thus, around 45 long-term observers will be in the country," D. Everts noted.

"On the day of elections we count on the arrival of 400 more short-term experts to monitor the elections throughout the day," the Ambassador added. He also noted that some experts started already their work today.

K. Saudabayev told D. Everts about the process of preparation for the forthcoming presidential elections. According to K. Saudabayev, Kazakhstan attaches considerable significance to open, transparent and fair elections in accordance with the international standards.

The Secretary of State-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan thinks that participation of the ODIHR in the monitoring of the presidential elections in our country will become a historic event after Kazakhstan's successful presidency in the OSCE and the OSCE Summit in Astana.