EU deploys poll observation team to Nepal

European Union (EU) has deployed an election observation mission (EOM) to Nepal to observe the elections to House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies scheduled for November 26 and December 7. The EOM core team comprising 10 EU election analysts arrived in Nepal on Tuesday at the request of Nepal government. The team will stay in the country until the completion of the electoral process, and prepare a comprehensive final report.As of November 3, the EOM core team will be joined by 38 long-term observers who will be deployed across the country. On November 20, some 20 short-term observers will be deployed for the first stage of the elections scheduled for November 26, while an additional 24 short-term observers will be deployed on December 1 for the second stage of the elections on December 7, EU said in a statement issued yesterday.The EOM looks forward to co-operating with other international and domestic observation missions.Germany offers to work as interlocutor: German ambassador to Nepal Roland Schaefer has expressed his interest to work as an “interlocutor” of Nepal’s peace process. Schaefer, who presented his credentials to President Bidya Devi Bhandari, also commended the achievements in Nepal’s ongoing peace process during an interaction with journalists. Sharing examples of various South American countries, including Colombia and Argentina, Schaefer said: “Nepal needs to move to complete the peace process and we want to play a respectful and privileged interlocutor.” “Election of above 40% women in the local bodies is outstanding. It is a great transformation and amazing journey towards consolidating democracy and federalism,” said Schaefer, who earlier served as his country’s ambassador to the European Union. “Germany used to be known as the country that produced world-class cars like Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and Audi among others. Now we want to advance ourselves as “political mechanic” as the EU leader,” he added. Describing the successful peace process of Nepal as an example to the rest of the world, Schaefer said the international community should be informed about this. “We will tell this successful narrative to the outer world,” he added. “Conflict-ridden countries of the world can learn a great deal from Nepal to move ahead on the path to peace.”