Representatives of the majority of parties approved and signed the documents at a ceremony held at the NEBE headquarters on Saturday, April 2nd, 2005. All other parties are expected to approve the documents in the coming days.

“The establishment of the joint consultative forum and the endorsement by all parties of the code of conduct is a step forward in promoting free and fair elections,” says Kemal Bedri, NEBE Chairman. “It will also contribute considerably to ensuring an overall climate of democratic tolerance during the election process,” he added.

The parties’ joint consultative forum, which will be established at national and polling stations levels, has is aimed at ensuring free and fair elections by peacefully resolving any disputes among parties that may arise during the election process.

The chairman of the NEBE and election officers at each level of administration will chair the parties’ joint forum, which will hold a regular session once a month and extraordinary sessions at the request of members. Members of the forum will abide by the code of conduct endorsed by the national forum.

The campaigning code of conduct guarantees any candidate or his supporter the freedom of oral and written expression, the freedom to assemble supporters, to organizing peaceful demonstrations and to request and obtain appropriate information. The candidates or parties are required to observe the electoral law, regulations issued by the NEBE and other laws of the country.

According to the new code of conduct, campaigning activities will not be carried out in military camps, churches and mosques, educational institutions while classes are being held, nor in government and public institutions during working hours. The code further states that political parties, candidates and members may not use public funds or resources like offices, aircraft, vehicles, and personnel for election campaigning purposes.

During campaigning, each candidate or political party should refrain from any resort to violence or intimidation, and not distort, destroy or remove, the campaign materials of other candidates or political parties. It is prohibited to scorn, insult or show disrespect to other candidates or political parties.

The document, however, states that the establishment of the joint consultative forum does not in any way limit or inhibit the legal rights of the NEBE, political parties and candidates to seek the resolution of disputes or disagreements through the normal legal mechanisms.