EU accepts invitation to monitor election

Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that European Commissioner for External Relations, Benito Ferrero Waldner, has accepted an invitation from Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shaid to provide electoral support for the planned elections later this year. The decision to send an election monitoring expert team followed a meeting between the Commissioner and the Foreign Minister and a subsequent formal invitation in November 2007 said a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry.

Commenting on the European Commission’s acceptance of the invitation to send election monitoring experts, Foreign Minister Shahid referred the decision as a “clear demonstration of the positive work government and the people of Maldives are doing with regards to the democratization of the political system”. The Minister also noted that the decision related to “a clear commitment from the government side to host free and fair elections”.

The Commissioner referred in the acceptance letter to the meeting she had with Minister Shahid in September 2007 when the issue of election monitoring support had been raised noted the press release. In addition Commissioner Ferrero Waldner was keen to point out that the elections constituted an “important landmark” in the reform process and chose to further reiterate European Union’s support which she felt would contribute to the “transparency and credibility of the process” said the press release.

The process of deciding which countries receive EU monitoring support is led by the European Commission, in consultation with EU Member States. The exact make up of the team of observers has yet to be defined but details are expected shortly said the press release.