Ethiopia has prepared a code of conduct and working procedures for international election observers who are poised to observe the country’s May 2010 national elections, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said on Wednesday.
It is the first time that Ethiopia has prepared such a document for international observers who will come to the country for the May 2010 national election during which around 30 million Ethiopians are expected to cast their votes.
According to state media reports, the directive implicitly states that the legitimacy of the election would be approved by the rule of law and the people of the country.
“The code of conduct of the directive incorporates international practices and invaluable knowledge gained at the last national election. The directive clearly states by whom the election observers are invited, procedures while they are carrying out their duties and how they could make comments, among others,” said the report.
“It also acknowledges the contribution of the role of election observers. It called on the election observers to carry out their responsibility in a neutral and candid way.
It has been reported that NEBE has deliberated on the code of conduct and working procedures with political parties before it was issued.
The current voter registration exercise is scheduled to end next week Wednesday. So far, according to reports, over 24 million people are reported to have been registered, and the number is expected to reach around 30 million by next week.
Last month Ethiopia extended invitation to the European Union and the Carter Center to observe the national elections due to be held for the fourth time under the current government, which removed the previous military regime in 1991.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
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