Monitors of the Democratic Processes in Macedonia

All MOST activities are divided into three main programmes: Citizens� Education, Open Institutions, and Accountability and Transparency. The projects are implemented through the central office located in Skopje, and 19 regional offices around the country.

Transparency and responsibility of processes and their actors
This programme is focused on increasing the public awareness for the need and advantages of their involvement in the decision-making process as equal holders of democracy.

3500 volunteers monitored the 2005 Local Elections

Within this programme MOST have monitored the Parliamentary Elections 2003, the additional Local Elections 2003, Presidential Elections 2004, the Local Elections 2005, and the Referendum on the Territorial Map in 2004. On the international level MOST have taken part in the Monitoring Mission for the Presidential Elections in the Ukraine. Under the sponsorship of the NDI and OSCE/ODIHR missions, MOST have also monitored elections in Albania, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro and Russia.

For the last Local elections 2005, MOST engaged 3500 volunteer monitors from all around Macedonia.

Citizens education and involvment in democratic processes
This programme's focus is to educate the citizens about their rights and obligations as active elements of democracy.

Visit to the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia

Within this programme, MOST have published the booklet �Citizen Guide trough the Parliament of R. Macedonia�, a guide trough the institution Parliament of Republic of Macedonia, guide trough the procedure of enacting the laws, but also it elaborates the ways and possibilities for citizen�s involvement and NGO�s involvement in the decision-making process separately.

In cooperation with the Parliament of Republic of Macedonia in the period from 1st of April 2003, till 10th of June 2003, as voluntary activity MOST conducted the project �Visits to the Parliament of Republic of Macedonia�. This project was of educational character and it was assign to students from the 4-th year from several secondary schools in Skopje, in other words for those who should go out on next elections and vote for the first time.

Within this programme MOST have published the specific web page Prv pat glasam (I vote for the first time), dedicated to young people, 18 year old, that are to be yet involved in electoral process.

Open/Responsive Institutions

The Mobile Parliament in Prilep, May 9, 2003

One of the most important activities of MOST is opening of the Office for cooperation with the Macedonian Parliament, dedicated to the cooperation between the NGOs and the parliamentary committees and the MPs. This office works as a service for both MPs and citizens. There the MPs can get any kind of support and help during their every day setup of appearances and technical support in preparing and distribution of materials, establishing contacts with NGOs that are affected with the certain legislative problematic, and the civic associations here can get all the needed materials and support about the work of the Parliament and submit their suggestions. The office can also serve as a meeting location between Members of Parliament and NGOs.

Over the last year, MOST initiated debates on the election legislation and presented its views and proposals for improvements in the electoral legislation at round-table discussions, with participation of experts and members of parliament. The real benefits of this should be felt over the coming period, when we plan to prepare the Code of Electoral Legislation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.

Within the Open Institution Programme there was the Mobile Parliament project, which was the pioneering step to get the electorate closer to their elected representatives. It included meetings of citizens and MPs, to be able to discuss the current issues. The participants in the meetings presented their views and suggestions to the MPs, in terms of improvements of the legislation and making in closer to the actual needs and wishes of the citizens.