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Friday, March 29, 2013
EU wants free, fair polls in Pakistan: envoyStaff Report
ISLAMABAD: European Union Ambassador in Pakistan Lars-Gunnar Wigemark on Thursday said the EU wants free, fair and transparent general election in Pakistan with complete freedom for the women to participate in the electoral process.
Elections should be credible and results should be acceptable to all the political parties taking part in the process, the ambassador told reporters after the launch of the UNDP Human Development Report at a local hotel.
He said that some 110 election observers are coming to Pakistan, with half of them staying here from start to end of the election process while remaining half will monitor only the polling. He said that the recent meeting of ambassadors of 20 EU member countries with the chief election commissioner was very positive. Wide range of issues including the participation of women in elections and security arrangements for the EU election observers in Pakistan were discussed in the meeting.
The ambassador said that regionalism is the best approach for the countries like Pakistan as, according to him, the EU being its big trading partner might not be as beneficial for Pakistan as India and Afghanistan or other neighbouring countries. The EU has allowed resumption of fish imports from Pakistan through two designated companies and has provided help for a preparing a piece of legislation for standards and health related issues. This legislation will help improve agricultural products’ export to the EU.
To a question on GSP Plus status for Pakistan, the ambassador said that Pakistan has formally submitted its application along with other contesting countries. This status is granted on the basis of 27 human rights related international conventions and their enforcement in the countries seeking GSP Plus status from EU, he said and added that it could take around 10 months to decide on the matter.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk