No accredited foreign election observers’ mission except AU, EU: Ministry


Addis Ababa, May 14, 2010 (Addis Ababa) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that government has not accredited any foreign election observers except the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) observers’ missions to observe the 4th national elections.

According to a statement the ministry sent to ENA on Thursday, the AU and EU are two of the three foreign organizations, which accepted invitation of the Ethiopian government to observe the elections.

The statement said some embassies and international organizations based here have been repeatedly requesting to observe the election.

However, the government has invited only the AU and the EU to do so. No embassy or international organization is invited or allowed to observe the election process.

The ministry said it had been impracticable to sign separate memorandum of understanding on codes of conduct with every mission and international organization.

Besides, the government believes that deploying a number of observation team will create a strain on the smooth election process .

The statement added that the ministry has notified embassies and international organizations based in Addis Ababa City that it will give them letter enabling them move their employees to any part of the country to carry out their regular duties before and after the election from (May 10-June 30, 2010).

ENA