Thye Earth Times
Mon, 03 Mar 2008
DPA
Phnom Penh - The European Commission (EC) announced the EU will send up to 200 observers to assist in Cambodian national elections scheduled for July, local media reported Monday. The English and Khmer-language Mekong Times daily said the pledge was made at a press conference held by Cambodia's EC Director-General of External Relations, Eneko Landaburu, Friday.
"The EC wishes to support an improvement in the quality of this nation's democracy and so are sending an EU observance mission to aid the electoral process," the paper quoted Landaburu as saying.
The EU has maintained a strong interest in critical areas in Cambodia including human rights, anti-corruption legislation and developing democracy in the South-east Asian nation and is a major donor.
Cambodian opposition parties have repeatedly alleged a range of electoral improprieties since the first multi-party elections in more than 30 years were held under UN auspices in 1993. National elections are held every five years.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party has strongly denied the claims and said they are politically motivated.
It is expected to easily win the upcoming elections and significantly increase its already strong margin over other parties but has said it will maintain a coalition with the royalist Funcinpec Party regardless.
Mon, 03 Mar 2008
DPA
Phnom Penh - The European Commission (EC) announced the EU will send up to 200 observers to assist in Cambodian national elections scheduled for July, local media reported Monday. The English and Khmer-language Mekong Times daily said the pledge was made at a press conference held by Cambodia's EC Director-General of External Relations, Eneko Landaburu, Friday.
"The EC wishes to support an improvement in the quality of this nation's democracy and so are sending an EU observance mission to aid the electoral process," the paper quoted Landaburu as saying.
The EU has maintained a strong interest in critical areas in Cambodia including human rights, anti-corruption legislation and developing democracy in the South-east Asian nation and is a major donor.
Cambodian opposition parties have repeatedly alleged a range of electoral improprieties since the first multi-party elections in more than 30 years were held under UN auspices in 1993. National elections are held every five years.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party has strongly denied the claims and said they are politically motivated.
It is expected to easily win the upcoming elections and significantly increase its already strong margin over other parties but has said it will maintain a coalition with the royalist Funcinpec Party regardless.
No comments:
Post a Comment