EU urges Ethiopian govt, NEB to respect the rule of the game

ADDIS ABABA, July 9, 2005 (The Reporter) — The European Union has urged the [Ethiopian] government and the National Electoral Board (NEB) to make sure that all the agreed post-election hearings and investigation procedures are fully respected after ambassadors of European Countries met yesterday to discuss events after the May 15 national and regional elections.

A statement released by the British Embassy, the presidency of the European Union Heads of Mission in Addis Ababa, said all dissenting views needed to be duly registered and the personal safety of witnesses ensured in the course of complaints hearings and investigations.

The statement further said the Presidency reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the peaceful and satisfactory completion of the democratic election process in Ethiopia.