AHG/Decl. 1 (XXXVIII) Page 6 13. Every citizen and political party shall accept the results of elections proclaimed to have been free and fair by the competent national bodies as provided for in the Constitution and the electoral laws and accordingly respect the final decision of the competent Electoral Authorities or, challenge the result appropriately according to the law. V. ELECTION OBSERVATION AND MONITORING BY THE OAU We request the OAU to be fully engaged in the strengthening of the democratization process, particularly by observing and monitoring elections in our Member States, according to the following guidelines: VI. 1. The observation and monitoring of elections shall be undertaken subject to a memorandum of understanding between the OAU General Secretariat and the host country in accordance with the principles enshrined in this Declaration and the laws of the host country. 2. In performing their obligations, the election observers or monitors shall be guided by detailed guidelines to be prepared by the General Secretariat drawing inspiration from the essential thrust of this declaration, the specific mandates and terms of reference determined by the particular case in question as well as the wider legal framework of the country staging elections. 3. Member States should ensure that invitations to the OAU to participate in election observation or monitoring are sent at least two months before the date of the election. 4. Member States should refrain from imposing any fees and/or charges on OAU observers i.e. registration/accreditation fees etc and facilitate easy access of observers/monitors to locations of electoral events/activities and unhindered in the performance of their tasks. 5. The General Secretariat shall have the right to decline invitations to monitor elections which in its considered opinion, do not measure up to the normative standards enunciated in this Declaration. ROLE AND MANDATE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT