Text of report by the Tajik news agency Asia-Plus on 23rd February

A working group of the Tajik Central Electoral and Referendum Commission
held a meeting yesterday, 22nd February. The Asia-Plus news agency learned
at the commission's press centre that the working group was set up to train
local and foreign observers and representatives of the mass media to
monitor the elections to the Assembly of Representatives.

According to the same source, 78 long-term observers, representing different
international organizations and countries, including 30 observers of the
joint OSCE and UN mission, have been registered so far by the Tajik
electoral commission and are preparing for the upcoming elections in
Tajikistan.

Another 60 observers, including ones from CIS countries, are expected to
arrive in Tajikistan within the next few days.
A total of over 100 foreign observers will monitor the elections to the
parliament's lower chamber at 3,000 polling stations throughout the
republic.

As for local observers, each political party and each candidate can send one
own representative to each electoral district. According to the law on the
elections to the Supreme Assembly, local and foreign journalists accredited
in Tajikistan also have the right to monitor the elections.

Source: Asia-Plus news agency, Dushanbe, in Russian 0811 gmt 23 Feb 00
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