DUSHANBE, 24 August, Asia-Plus - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) will undertake a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) from August 25 to September 1 to Tajikistan.

Mr. Aleksandr Sodiqov, Media Assistant at the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, has told Asia-Plus that the mission will aim to assess preparations for the forthcoming presidential elections in Tajikistan, in line with OSCE commitments, and render assistance to the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda.

The NAM will include Nikolai Vulchanov, Deputy Head of the ODIHR’s Election Section, Konrad Olszewski, an Election Adviser with the ODIHR, and Anna Chernova, Program Officer in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

The NAM plans to hold meetings in Dushanbe with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central Commission for Elections and Referenda, political parties, civil society, media and the international community. The mission also plans to visit Kulob and Qurghon Teppa.