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OAS MISSION ARRIVES IN GUYANA THURSDAY

  April 6, 2006

A mission from the Organization of American States (OAS) will arrive in Guyana today, as part of a sustained effort by the hemispheric organization to engage with the authorities in that country on a variety of issues arising from the government’s request for electoral observation and electoral technical assistance.

The current four-day mission follows a visit in February by the OAS Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, and comes in response to an official request from the government of Guyana for a long-term OAS Electoral Observation Mission amid preparations for national elections that are expected later this year.

Ambassador Ramdin said the visit is “a demonstration of our commitment to Guyana as it seeks to prepare for elections.” He further explained that it is meant as well to get a firsthand sense of the situation on the ground, from a political as well as electoral perspective.

A two-person OAS technical team will arrive today and will be joined by Ambassador Ramdin on April 9. During this visit, Ambassador Ramdin intends to sign separate agreements with the government of Guyana and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) with respect to the OAS Electoral Observation Mission. Ramdin will also meet with political and civil society leaders.

Reference: E-086/06