At the meeting of the UK Parliamentary Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly which I addressed on 16 February, you asked whether there might be a role for the OSCE in advising on the conduct of the Montenegrin referendum. I am replying as Minister responsible for our relations with the OSCE.

  Ensuring that the 21 May Montenegrin Referendum is free and fair and produces a legitimate result is vital. In December, the Venice Commission reported that the referendum law in Montenegro did not violate applicable international standards. The Commission recommended that negotiations should take place within Montenegro in order to achieve a consensus on the principles concerning the conduct and implementation of the referendum. In particular, it recommended a specific majority be required to ensure that all Montenegro's political parties accept the outcome of the referendum.

  Following the Venice Commission report, the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, appointed a Personal Envoy, Miroslav Lajcak, to facilitate negotiations between the Government and opposition on referendum arrangements. Subsequently, agreements on the referendum question wording, the qualified majority threshold and campaign funding have been secured. These technical agreements will enhance the legitimacy of the eventual outcome. A Referendum Commission, headed by an independent President, has also been established to adjudicate complaints lodged by either side.

  On 6 March, the OSCE and Council of Europe were invited to observe the referendum by the Montenegrin Government. Given that the EU is already heavily engaged in work on the conduct of the referendum, it is unlikely that the OSCE will extend its activity beyond this election observation mandate. We fully support the OSCE's election observation work and in line with our policy will provide 10% of the total number of observers the OSCE requests.

Douglas Alexander MP

Minister for Europe

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

13 March 2006