Response to Belarus on OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission for U.S. General Elections

As delivered by Political Counselor Christopher Robinson
the Permanent Council, Vienna
October 25, 2012

The United States takes seriously Belarus’ concerns, which we will pass to our authorities. We reserve the right to return to this issue. I will limit myself here to noting that we welcome the OSCE election observation mission to the United States, as we have done since 2002, to observe our general and mid-term elections.

Colleagues will recall that we issued an unconditional invitation to ODIHR and the Parliamentary Assembly in February of this year. The United States takes seriously our commitments to democracy and transparency in our election system.

Finally, I will note that OSCE missions have continually expressed overall confidence in the integrity of the electoral process and the professionalism of the U.S. election administration in previous U.S. elections.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.