Commonwealth Envoys visit Bangladesh
13 February 1996
Two senior officials of the Commonwealth Secretariat arrive in Dhaka, Bangladesh, today to be present in that country during the period of the general election to be held on Thursday 15 February 1996. The officials — Mr Carl Dundas, Special Adviser, and Dr Chris Easter, Assistant Director — are envoys of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and will report to him on their return. They are expected to return to London at the end of the week.
In a brief statement issued at Marlborough House in London, Chief Anyaoku said:
"The Commonwealth attaches great importance to democratic processes and institutions in its member states. It observed the last general election held in Bangladesh in 1991 and has since been involved in a mission of good offices to help resolve an internal political crisis. While the association is not in a position to observe the forthcoming elections, I believe that the presence of my emissaries will be helpful in enabling us to have a first-hand assessment of developments which impact on democracy in Bangladesh, an assessment which I propose to share with the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration."
Note to Editors:
A Commonwealth Observer Group monitored the February 1991 general election in Bangladesh and declared it to be a credible reflection of the will of the electorate. The 1996 elections are being boycotted by three major political parties and, under existing Commonwealth guidelines, the Commonwealth cannot send an observer group for an electoral process without the support of all major parties.
delicious
digg
reddit
facebook
stumbleupon
News feedsLatest Speech
- Commonwealth Tourism Ministers MeetingCommonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma
Useful Resources
Subscribe to our weekly email news bulletin and quarterly ezine - click here