From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Mon Mar 29 2010 - 07:50:30 EST
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article34576
UN has no monitoring role in Sudan’s elections - envoy
Monday 29 March 2010
March 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nation Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
stressed today that it has no monitoring role during the upcoming elections
in the country but added it could bring any discrepancy to the two peace
partners.
The newly appointed head of UNMIS, which facilitates the implementation of
the CPA signed in January 2005, held today his first press conference since
his arrival to Khartoum where he dealt mainly with issues related to the
next month elections.
The Eritrean diplomat, Haile Menkerios, pointed out that the Mission
supports and ushers the implementation of the CPA provisions including the
electoral process which part and parcel of the deal aiming to achieve
democratic transition in the country.
Menkerios underlined that the Mission can support the independent observers
and "provide them logistical assistance" but added UNMIS will not be
involved directly in the monitoring process. However he said as the parties
are committed, in accordance to the 2005 accord, to hold fair and free
elections, the UN body has brought "any discrepancy that we see by
ourselves" to the CPA signatories and to the National Election Commission.
"We have continued to advise, to encourage and to assist that measures be
taken to ensure that a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections
exists and continues to do so," he said.
As the UNMIS was accused recently of giving the green light to the printing
of election ballots inside Sudan, the head of mission emphasized today on
the consultative role they are playing in the implementation of the
different aspects of the peace agreement that ended more than two decades of
war in southern Sudan.
Speaking about the position of the UN chief Ban Ki-Moon who recently
expressed surprise on the calls to postpone Sudanese elections, Menkerios
said what Ban "expressed is the issues raised by the opposition to make this
process free and fair need to be addressed in a way that does not create an
obstacle to the implementation of the CPA".
Sudanese opposition and Darfur rebel urge to delay the election saying there
is a need to end Darfur conflict and undertake reforms in a number of laws
primarily relating national security and media. They also accuse the the NEC
of bias in favor of the ruling NCP.
However, the election is seen also in the CPA as timeframe before to hold
the referendum on self determination for southern Sudan and Abyei. Sudanese
presidency is expected to discuss on Tuesday a memorandum by the opposition
forces calling to postpone April election till next November.
(ST)
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