EU seeks lifting of emergency
Monday, 24 November 2008
The European Union (EU) Sunday said it was not happy with parliament election under the state of emergency although it had decided to deploy the full election observation mission to monitor the December 29 polls, reports UNB.
"It is not easy to accept the emergency. Although we are sending election observation mission following relaxation of emergency but it does not mean we are happy. We still keep saying that it should go ideally," EC Head of the Delegation Ambassador Stefan Frowein told reporters after the EU Troika's meeting with Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.
He said the chief of the Election Observation Mission (EOM) is scheduled to arrive in the city Sunday to lead the long-term election observation. The core team of the EOM is already in the city, and the short-term observers will come later to monitor the election.
French Ambassador Charley Causeret who currently chairs the EU presidency said they want a free, fair and fully participatory election on time.
Ambassador of Sweden Britt Hagstrom was present as a Troika member. During the meeting Frowein read out a message from European Commissioner for External Relations Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner to Iftekhar.
In her message Ferrero-Waldner said the European Commission has consistently demonstrated its strong support for the democratic process in Bangladesh through substantial assistance to the preparation of voters list with photographs and decided to re-deploy the full EOM.
"It is not easy to accept the emergency. Although we are sending election observation mission following relaxation of emergency but it does not mean we are happy. We still keep saying that it should go ideally," EC Head of the Delegation Ambassador Stefan Frowein told reporters after the EU Troika's meeting with Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.
He said the chief of the Election Observation Mission (EOM) is scheduled to arrive in the city Sunday to lead the long-term election observation. The core team of the EOM is already in the city, and the short-term observers will come later to monitor the election.
French Ambassador Charley Causeret who currently chairs the EU presidency said they want a free, fair and fully participatory election on time.
Ambassador of Sweden Britt Hagstrom was present as a Troika member. During the meeting Frowein read out a message from European Commissioner for External Relations Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner to Iftekhar.
In her message Ferrero-Waldner said the European Commission has consistently demonstrated its strong support for the democratic process in Bangladesh through substantial assistance to the preparation of voters list with photographs and decided to re-deploy the full EOM.