Seoul-initiated project to form a world association of electoral bodies

The delegation of the Russian Central Elections Commission (CEC), which is on a visit in South Korea, discussed with their South Korean partners a Seoul-initiated project to form a world association of electoral bodies, Chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission Vladimir Churov said in an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass before the departure to Moscow. “Although the Koreans also informed us about it, we had to understand which benefit this organization will bring, which goals and tasks it has and which participants it will have. We have been discussing all these practical issues with our Korean partners for two days. We agreed that we will present our proposals within a week,” he said. Upon return to the homeland, in his words, these issues will be discussed with the CEC members and the Foreign Ministry. “First, a broad representation of various countries in this association is of paramount importance to us. We are aware that India and Mexico, which are our partners in bilateral relations, as well as South Korea, intend to participate in it. But it is unclear yet, whether China, which has an experience of holding elections on the alternative basis, in the National People’s Congress and in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, will participate in it,” Vladimir Churov said. In his words, it is unclear whether a new committee, which President Barack Obama formed in the United States, will participate in the work of this association, because two current federal committees do not have a proper scope of powers, as the U.S. presidential elections showed it. “It is important that a committee, which was formed directly at the initiative of President Obama, can participate in it,” the chairman of the Russian CEC noted. In the view of Churov, “The issues of funding of a future organization also require additional changes, and a more concrete idea about its programs and projects is needed,” Churov said. The Russian delegation was showed the premises of a new business centre Songdo at the port city Incheon (former Chemulpo). South Korea offers this business centre as a place for permanent secretariat of a future organization. A constituent conference to set up a new association is scheduled in October.