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The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) announced that Chairperson Lee In-Bok and Secretary General Kim Yong-Hi of the National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea (NEC) participated in the 2nd General Assembly of A-WEB held on August 19 in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic as the Chairperson and the Secretary General of A-WEB respectively.

The General Assembly and the following international conference saw around 200 participants from 72 member countries, including the Republic of Korea who held the chairmanship, the Dominican Republic, the vice-chairmanship, four Executive Board members: the election management bodies (EMBs) of Canada, India, Romania, South Africa, and three Oversight and Audit Committee members: the EMBs of Kenya, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and El Salvador.

A-WEB reported on its projects that it has pursued or is pursuing in close cooperation with the NEC for the enhancement of democracy and election systems worldwide. The projects are as follows:

- Establishing and supporting the computerized election system for the General Elections of Kyrgyzstan to be held on October 4;

- Hosting the 2015 Seoul International Forum on Elections to explore the ways to develop an advanced election system and promote democracy;

- Observing international elections to ensure the fairness of elections and to experience other advanced election systems;

- Conducting training programs for electoral officials from transitional countries to share the advanced election system of the Republic of Korea.

In order to establish the operation system commensurate with A-WEB''s status as an international organization and carry out its missions in an efficient manner, A-WEB reached an agreement during the Assembly on various issues, including the approval of provisional membership for candidate organizations, strengthening the authority of the Executive Board, and election method of the Secretary General.

In addition, the President of the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic, Rosario Márquez was newly elected as the 2nd Chairperson of A-WEB, the President of Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania as the Vice-Chairperson and as the host of the 3rd General Assembly. The EMBs of India, South Africa, Kenya, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, and Albania were elected as new members of the Executive Board.

Meanwhile, before the opening ceremony of the General Assembly, the Chairperson, Lee In-Bok and the Secretary General, Kim Yong-Hi of the NEC had a discussion with Mr. Danilo Medina, the President of the Dominican Republic as to the roles of A-WEB for the enhancement of democracy around the world.

In October 2013, A-WEB was established to advance democracy and election systems worldwide, with attendance of 97 EMBs from 94 countries. The NEC took the initiative in the process of A-WEB establishment. The A-WEB Secretariat is located in Song-do, Incheon Metropolitan City of the Republic of Korea.

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