Brussels, 26/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 22 August, the Italian Presidency issued the following statement on behalf of the EU:
“The development of the political situation in Guatemala, included the regretful events of July 24th and 25th last are followed by the EU with the level of attention required by the implications of the forthcoming elections.
In this regard, the EU reiterates the importance it attaches to the electoral process in Guatemala developing in a fair, peaceful and participatory environment. The EU calls on the Guatemalan authorities and all the political parties involved, to ensure the adoption of the measures required for genuine, free and transparent elections on November 9th and urges them to do their utmost that violence likewise occurred on July 24th and 25th will not be repeated.
The EU welcomes the positive response of the Guatemalan government and civil society to the EU's decision to send an electoral observatory mission to Guatemala. The EU believes that this observation mission, in collaboration with that organised by OAS, together with national observers, can play an important role in promoting free and fair election. By sending this mission, not only will the EU show its will to monitor the electoral process but also to be present as in the past in a crucial step of the democratic life of the country.
As a result of the recent wave of violence, the EU has now agreed to immediately deploy the Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation mission, Mr Sakellariou, to Guatemala in advance of the full deployment of the observer mission in September.
The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.”