Brussels, 30/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Union has responded to the invitation of the Burma/Myanmar government to deploy a team of experts, made up of members of the European Parliament, for the by-elections on 1 April. The team joins diplomats from member states and representatives of ASEAN, the United States and Australia to ensure “an essential presence at this key moment of Myanmar's political transition”.
Welcoming the “unprecedented access” to the country by the international community, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton praised, on Wednesday 28 March, the generally peaceful nature of the campaign and hoped that this would continue unhindered, in order to allow candidates from all parties to put their programmes to the electorate. Ashton expressed her concern at the intimidation and other irregularities committed by a number of the parties, trusting that the government would investigate and manage this in an appropriate manner. She pointed out that the elections are a “key moment in national reconciliation” and should allow substantial review of Europe's policy towards Burma.
Some 40 seats out of over 500 in the two Houses are to be renewed. (CG/transl.jl)