Press Release: For Immediate Release

                               Election Agreement Signed with European Union

11 March 2005

The Government and the European Union have finalised an agreement to allow an EU team to observe the forthcoming elections for the House of Peoples’ Representatives and Regional Councils.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today by the Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Tekeda Alemu, the head of the European Commission Delegation in Ethiopia, Ambassador Tim Clarke and the Chairman of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, Mr Kemal Bedri.

The agreement provides a legal basis for the European Union to deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the federal and regional elections scheduled for 15 May 2005. It is the first such agreement to be signed by an Ethiopian government.

The agreement allows EU observers to visit polling stations and to have access to election officials and relevant material.

Mr Bedri said the Board would be pleased to welcome the EU observation mission and to provide the necessary co-operation and assistance to ensure it can fulfill its mandate.


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