Defending their decision not to monitor elections, Head of the European Union (EU) delegation to Bangladesh William Hanna on Saturday hoped that the political parties would make the best use of their times to reach some sort of understanding for a sustainable, inclusive and credible election.
“We’ll follow what happens next, and I’ll be asked to do a new report in January about what could be next things to do. But I really would think that it would be good to come to some sort of understanding soon…sooner rather than later,” Hanna told a select group of reporters, including that of Channel 24.
He said they are not intervening rather encouraging political parties to reach an agreement that is politically acceptable and constitutionally viable and mentioned that the EU would remain hopeful that this could be resolved.
“We consistently said that there needs to be an agreement — politically acceptable solution and constitutionally viable. I think it would have been better had it been resolved earlier,” Hanna added.
Responding to a question, Hanna said they did not side with any quarter by halting the deployment of Election Observation Mission in Bangladesh for the January-5 election. “Europe doesn’t take sides in this question… we didn’t want our pulling-out to be seen as supporting one or staying to be seen supporting the other side, that’s not the point.”
He explained further saying that they wanted to support the democratic rights of people to be able to go out and vote to choose the next government. “It’s EU’s long commitment to Bangladesh.”
The EU sees no point in sending observers for the Jan-5 polls as there are absence of necessary conditions for a transparent, inclusive and credible election compelled them to halt the decision for the time being. “…so the conditions for elections which will be transparent, inclusive and credible are not there for the moment,” Hanna said.
Because of that, Hanna added, she (Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission) is taking the decision, for the time being, to halt election observation by the EU.
“But, she also points out that when the conditions are right we would like to observe the elections. I’m saying we stand ready to deploy observers when the conditions are right,” Hanna added.
Amid criticisms for not attending the Victory Day celebrations at Savar, Hanna clarified its position saying that they had to skip the programme for their urgent meeting, but ‘no disrespect was intended at all’.
“We had a very busy week, and unfortunately we had to work on a public holiday here Victory Day. I would like to make it clear that we would never intend any disrespect to Bangladesh, or to the people of Bangladesh or to the people who fought and died for freedom of Bangladesh,” he said.
Hanna explained further saying that the key turning point in their decision was when it became clear the majority of seats were already decided without the voters having voted. “Then it became clear…there’ll be no point of observing polls and sending the EU observers.”
He said they had decided to work on a ‘very complicated report’ in the morning on the day and decided to go to go the celebration event at the presidential palace in the afternoon. “But no disrespect was intended at all.”
Hanna went on saying, “There was a change, we had to discuss, and we had to look into that and meet together to decide. I hope it’s clear.”
Clarifying the EU position on holding the meeting on Monday morning, Hanna said it was quite an important decision which was taken after lot of considerations in Bangladesh.
He also said they had to send the report to 28 capitals of the EU member states and Brussels urgently. “So, people can understand that position.”
On Friday, the EU decided to halt ‘for now’ the preparations for the deployment of an Election Observation Mission in Bangladesh as main political parties here could not create the necessary conditions for transparent, inclusive and credible elections.
“The High Representative regrets that the main political forces in Bangladesh have been unable to create the necessary conditions for transparent, inclusive and credible elections, despite many efforts, including most recently under UN auspices,” said a statement issued from Brussels on Friday.
The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the statement.
The EU decision came a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had announced that a fresh election would be held after dissolving the 10th parliament if an understanding is reached. But, she also mentioned, the BNP must shun violence and sever ties with Jamaat-e-Islami to make that happen.
The High Representative has urged all sides to refrain from violence, and encouraged all political leaders to respect the right of the people of Bangladesh to express their democratic choice.
“The EU remains nonetheless ready to observe the elections should the political conditions allow for the holding of transparent, inclusive and credible elections,” the statement added.
Source: UNBConnect
