Full Iraq poll mission unlikely

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 08/12/05

Facing inadequate security, time constraints and a lack of funds the EU is soon expected to decide against sending a full monitoring mission to Iraq's parliamentary elections, planned for 15 December.

With only days before the vote, a fully fledged election mission to the country has effectively been ruled out, ending the possibility of independent European verification of the results.

Some member states have offered to put forward election monitors for a mission, however it now appears likely they will be used for an ad-hoc mission, supporting the Independent Electoral Commission for Iraq (IECI).

According to one diplomat, individual EU monitors could report to the IECI in the hope that it will give a wider picture of the fairness of the election.

A number of staff from European embassies on the ground have already registered to monitor the vote.

Some have criticised the decision not to send a full mission. "The decision saddens me," said Emma Nicholson, a British Liberal Democrat MEP who will lead an informal international team supported by the UK presidency to monitor the vote.

"I understand the concerns there are about funding on security issues.

"But if we wish to monitor elections being done then we have to face up to the security issues."

In November foreign ministers agreed to look into how the EU could assist with the elections, which many see as a crucial step in stabilising the country after more than two years of violence.

Elections for the transitional assembly last year saw eight million Iraqis vote, but were marred by ongoing violence.

Article reports that facing inadequate security, time constraints and a lack of funds the EU was expected to decide against sending a full monitoring mission to Iraq's Parliamentary elections, planned for 15 December 2005.

EEAS: Iraq http://www.eeas.europa.eu/iraq/index_en.htm

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