EC ready to send monitors for elections
Member of the European Commission in charge of External Relations and the European Neighborhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said in a statement on Friday the coming parliamentary elections were crucial for Lebanon”s democracy, and that the commission was ready to send election monitors.
The European Commission”s statement said Waldner would arrive in Beirut on Monday for a two-day visit in which she would meet with President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud and other ministers to discuss recent regional developments, the implementation of the Doha agreement, upcoming parliamentary elections, and reform of the Lebanese Cabinet.
Waldner said that much had been accomplished since her last visit to Lebanon and praised the "core" decision taken by Lebanon and Syria to establish diplomatic ties, adding that appointing a Lebanese ambassador to Syria was a crucial step, and was the first of many toward normalizing relations.