KHOROG, November 26, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A meeting formally titled “Ways to Hold Transparent and Fair Elections” was held in Khorog, administrative center of Gorno Badakhshan on November 25.

Organized by the Khorog Civil Society Support Center, Kalam, the meeting brought together representatives from local authorities, political parties, public and human rights organizations, local and international media to determine problems facing organization and holding elections in the region and the country as a whole and ways to solve them.

Lack of transparency and fairness, participation of representative from local authorities in the process of preparations for elections and unfounded control of work of polling stations by local authorities were named among the main problems facing elections.

The meeting participants also considered it expedient to set up a group of national observers along with including representatives of political parties, public associations and unaffiliated persons in electoral commissions.  Members of the group of national observers should include unaffiliated persons and members of public associations.

They also discussed issues related to free and equal access of political parties to media and organization of training seminars both for voters and political parties and public associations, etc.