The European Union has said it will not send observers to monitor the January 5 elections in Bangladesh, as the necessary conditions for holding inclusive polls were not created. The spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, in a statement on Friday, said “The high representative has decided to halt for now the preparations for the deployment of an Election Observation Mission… the EU remains nonetheless ready to observe the elections should the political conditions allow for the holding of transparent, inclusive and credible elections.”
The statement also said that the EU high representative regrets that the main political forces in Bangladesh have been unable to create the necessary conditions for transparent, inclusive and credible elections, despite many efforts, including most recently under UN auspices.
The High Representative urged all sides to refrain from violence and encouraged all political leaders to respect the right of the people of Bangladesh to express their democratic choice.
Earlier, on November 30, Catherine Ashton, in her statement on the preparation for general election in Bangladesh, mentioned that the EU is ready to consider sending election observers as it did in 2008. However, this depends on the political and security situation in Bangladesh, read the statement. The EU also called on the leaders of all political parties in Bangladesh to agree on a mutually acceptable formula so as to facilitate the holding of elections which fully reflect the wishes of people and urged political leaders to refrain from any actions that could spark further violence.
-With The Independent input
