CHIEF Returning Officer Lazaros Savvides yesterday rubbished reports that the
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was in Cyprus due to a discrepancy in the local electoral proceedings.
Savvides said they were here for the opposite reason. He said the OSCE was so impressed by the fact that there had never been any complaints filed over the procedures followed in Cyprus, it decided to visit the island and observe the lead-up to the parliamentary elections on May 22. The nine-member OSCE delegation arrived on the island on Monday.
Savvides was responding to criticism by opposition DISY’s parliamentary spokesman, Christos Pourgourides, who said that in order for the OSCE to visit a member state, a problem must have occurred.
He added that the government had a duty to consult with parliament before inviting the OSCE to the island. Pourgourides sent a letter to the Foreign Minister, seeking clarifications. “The matters that will be covered by the group of inspectors mainly concern the House,” said Pourgourides.
He said it was not unheard of for the OSCE to visit states that have democratic policies. “But to come to Cyprus, they have spotted a problem,” Pourgourides added. Pourgourides said he had no idea about what it could be. “I am thinking now – from the meetings I have had at times with the organisation’s technocrats as president of the European Council’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights – that they are possibly wanting to check the parties’ finances. There were serious concern over this, but maybe it has to do with other matters, such as whether the small parties are being treated with equality by the media and government.”
But Savvides, who was asked why the OSCE on the island had decided to come to Cyprus for the first time ever, said the delegation was left fully satisfied by what they heard during the hour-and-a-half meeting he had with them.
He cited the organisation’s desire to seek advice and knowledge from Cyprus, having in mind that no party or organisation in Cyprus has ever submitted a complaint about the election procedure. He said they were especially impressed by this.
“In a report it prepared in March, the OSCE expressed interest in a special committee coming to Cyprus to observe the procedure,” said Savvides. “On April 19, they sent a letter to the relevant services and informed them they would be coming.”
Savvides sent a plea to “all involved” to stop exaggerating. “There is nothing wrong,” he added.
Savvides said the nine-member committee was small compared to delegations sent to other countries – such as the Palestinian territories, where they were 300 members.
The delegation has been given full access to all voting centres on the day of the election. Savvides said the OSCE was very pleased the legal provision that prevents anyone from entering the centres during the voting count.
