Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry has received requests from a number of countries including Japan and international organizations such as the European Union (EU) to monitor the implementation of Aceh`s direct regional chief elections scheduled for next December 11, 2006, a spokesman said. "There is no problem about the requests from various parties to monitor the direct elections in Aceh," Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda said. The minister made the statement to the press at the State Palace after attending a ceremony marking the presentation of the credentials of nine newly-accredited foreign ambassadors to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He said the European Union, European countries and Japan were among the parties that had expressed interest in observing Aceh`s regional polls to elect a governor and vice governor, district heads and mayors. The minister said he and Home Affairs Minister Moh. Ma`ruf had signed a joint decree to regulate the entry of foreign observers into Aceh and their activities during the elections. Wirajuda said the foreign observers` presence in Aceh would be helpful as it was through them that Indonesia would be able to prove its capability to conduct peaceful and safe elections in a previously conflict-torn region. (*)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry has received requests from a number of countries including Japan and international organizations such as the European Union (EU) to monitor the implementation of Aceh`s direct regional chief elections scheduled for next December 11, 2006, a spokesman said. "There is no problem about the requests from various parties to monitor the direct elections in Aceh," Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda said. The minister made the statement to the press at the State Palace after attending a ceremony marking the presentation of the credentials of nine newly-accredited foreign ambassadors to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He said the European Union, European countries and Japan were among the parties that had expressed interest in observing Aceh`s regional polls to elect a governor and vice governor, district heads and mayors. The minister said he and Home Affairs Minister Moh. Ma`ruf had signed a joint decree to regulate the entry of foreign observers into Aceh and their activities during the elections. Wirajuda said the foreign observers` presence in Aceh would be helpful as it was through them that Indonesia would be able to prove its capability to conduct peaceful and safe elections in a previously conflict-torn region. (*)
