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EU wants polls by year-end

Staff Correspondent
The European Union (EU) yesterday called for general elections by the year-end saying that political parties will have to bear the responsibility for taking Bangladesh back to a pre-1/11 situation if they boycott polls.
But, boycott of polls would not necessarily prevent the holding of a free, fair and credible election, it said.
'The EU is convinced that elections in 2008 are essential for securing sustainable democracy in Bangladesh and secunng progress towards the goal of achieving the status of a middle-income country,' said European Commission Ambassador Stefan Frowein in a statement at the Europe Day press conference at the Sheraton Hotel in thecapital.
Replying to questions about implications of election boycott threats by political parties, German Ambassador Frank Meyke called upon political parties to carry out reforms and remain committed to elections.
"If (hey boycott, political parties would have to bear the responsibll ities of bringing back a situation similar to that before (lie state of emergency was declared (in January 11,2007)," said Meyke.
Frowein said, "Boycott is not nice and not something we like. But it does not mean an election cannot be free, fair and credible -notasinequanon.”
He also said the January 22 elections in 2007 were called off not because the Awami League threatened to boycott the polls, but because it was a "one-sided election".
French Ambassador Charley Causeret said he is frustrated by the reluctance of political parties to talk about their political and economic policies after the elections. He is also disappointed at the media's failure to raise these questions.
Frowein also said, "The EU supports the lifting of the state of emergency as soon as the situation allows and it is important that there is a level playing field in the run up to the elections."
"We call upon the political parties to live up to their national responsibility and constructively participate in dialogue with the government and the Election Commission," headded.
The EU will send a small exploratory election observer mission in June to assess the situation. A larger observer team, led by a European Parliamentary member, might arrive once the exploratory mission submits its report.
The EU and its member states disbursed $580 million in aid to Bangladesh last year.