welcoming lifting of state of emergency in Bangladesh, Secretary-General

Encourages all parties to ‘address nation’s challenges together’

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the lifting today of the state of emergency in Bangladesh as a positive step towards ensuring the right of all Bangladeshis to free, fair and credible parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for 29 December 2008.  He encourages all stakeholders, including the main political parties, to continue to address the nation’s challenges together, collaboratively and collegially.

The Secretary-General reiterates the need for Bangladesh to achieve its full potential for democratic development through credible elections and a peaceful transition to a stronger democratic order following the elections.  As previously announced, the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel, headed by Francesc Vendrell, will return to the country later next week to assess and report on the conduct of the last stages of the electoral process and developments in the immediate post-election period.

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For information media • not an official record