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OAS MISSION TO OBSERVE ELECTIONS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

  April 21, 2006

The Organization of American States (OAS) will send an Electoral Observation Mission to accompany the May 16 legislative and municipal elections in the Dominican Republic.

Responding to an invitation by the government, the OAS Mission will observe the electoral process leading up to and culminating in the election of 176 members of Congress and 756 municipal councilors.

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza has designated Rubén M. Perina, Advisor in the OAS Subsecretariat of Political Affairs, as Chief of Mission. Perina has extensive experience in this area, having headed observation missions in Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Venezuela.

A small group of experts will arrive in the Dominican Republic next week to begin preparatory activities and coordinate logistics. The OAS Electoral Observation Mission will officially be installed during the first days of May, when it will begin meeting with electoral and governmental authorities, as well as with representatives of political parties, civil society, the media and the international community in Santo Domingo. The OAS Mission will be made up of an experienced, interdisciplinary group of around 40 observers from different countries in the hemisphere.

The OAS has accompanied seven previous elections in the Dominican Republic since 1990, working closely with electoral authorities, political parties and civil society in its efforts to guarantee transparency, objectivity and credibility in the democratic process.

Reference: E-099/06