The OSCE announced in an 11 August press release that it has set up an election observer mission to monitor 19 September parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan. OSCE Ambassador Robert L. Barry of the United States will head the mission, which includes a 12-member team based in Astana and Almaty, as well as 16 long-term international observers throughout the country. Four-hundred short-term observers have been requested for election-day monitoring. Observers \"will assess the election process against international standards agreed to by all OSCE participating states, as well as against national legislation.\" The mission will issue preliminary findings the day after the elections, and a comprehensive report one month after the election process is complete. (RFE/RL)