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OAS Mission Begins Deployment of Electoral Observers in Bolivia

  April 3, 2010

The Chief of the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organization of American States (OAS), Arístides Royo, continued the Mission’s activities for the Departmental and Municipal Elections to be held in Bolivia on Sunday, April 4.

The Mission began its work last week and is made up of 50 observers that have already been deployed in the 9 departments of the Bolivian territory, with the goal of following the development of the electoral process, mainly its organization and the administrative progress of the elections.

In this context, Arístides Royo will meet with various electoral, political and government authorities in Santa Cruz.

The EOM Chief said that “we hope these elections will be carried out in a peaceful environment that will favor citizen participation on a day of democracy that we believe is to be exemplary. The Mission will fulfill its responsibilities and contribute to the successful development of the elections this Sunday.”

Former President of Panama Arístides Royo was designated Chief of Mission in Bolivia by the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, and set up the EOM on March 23. At that time, he signed the agreements that establish the conditions for observation and also held meetings with local and international authorities.

Arístides Royo has a long career in politics and public service: he participated as negotiator in the Torrijos-Carter treaties on the Panama Canal and on special OAS missions for the preservation of democracy and international law. He was Ambassador of Panama in France and twice in Spain, in addition to being Permanent Representative of Panama to the Organization of American States. He has published three books and received numerous international awards.

The Inter-American Democratic Charter establishes the principles and norms for the deployment of Missions. As such, they are carried out in an objective, impartial and transparent way, and with adequate technical support, all of which applies to the EOM in Bolivia.

Reference: E-105/10