SUDAN / EUROPEAN UNION OBSERVERS

Observers from the European Union Commission arrive in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to be in the country as observers at Sudan's first elections in 24 years. UNMIS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:16
• Production Date: 11 March 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SUDAN - UNMIS
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; POLITICAL CONDITIONS
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U100311a

Description

STORY: SUDAN / EUROPEAN UNION OBSERVERS
TRT: 1.16
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 11 MARCH 2010, KHARTOUM, SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, press conference dais
2. Close up, European Union Election Observation Mission banner
3. Med shot, dais
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Veronique De Keyser, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM):
"Sudan and other countries unfortunately have a very heavy heritage of violence. Democracy is a process. If we don't want to initiate this process because there are violence in a country, it will never start. Be sure."
6. Pan right, press conference
7. Close up, journalist
8. Med shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Veronique De Keyser, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM):
"The people of this country could by the way of the ballot box be able to take the first step towards a brighter and a more prosperous future, the future they deserve."
10. Wide shot, press conference.
11. Med shot, journalists and De Keyser

STORY:

Observers from the European Union Commission arrived this week in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, ahead of the country’s first elections in 24 years.

With only a month to go, the team of 130 observers representing 22 countries from the EU, as well as Norway, Switzerland and Canada, immediately started making preparations for the troubled African nation’s historic elections.

At a press conference in Khartoum, Veronique De Keyser, a Belgian member of the European Parliament, and the Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) said that they were in the country following an invitation from the National Elections Commission and the Government of Sudan.

De Keyser said she hoped these elections would turn a new page and bring a peaceful future to the Sudanese people.

SOUNDBITE (English) Veronique De Keyser, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM):
"Sudan and other countries unfortunately have a very heavy heritage of violence. Democracy is a process. If we don't want to initiate this process because there are violence in a country, it will never start. Be sure."

The observers of EU EOM to Sudan will be deployed to all 25 states and will conduct meetings with government officials, candidates, and other members of civil society and the media.

They will carry out a comprehensive analysis of the electoral process based on a long-term observation and a methodology developed by the EU which includes aspects such as the legal framework, the work of the election administration and the role of State institutions and civil society.

The EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement shortly after elections day, and a final report - with technical recommendations for future elections - will be published later.

SOUNDBITE (English) Veronique De Keyser, Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM):
"The people of this country could by the way of the ballot box be able to take the first step towards a brighter and a more prosperous future, the future they deserve."

The members of the mission have said that they will remain neutral and abide by the EU election observation code of conduct and Sudanese laws.

EU EOMs are funded by a special EU budget aimed at supporting human rights and democracy.