Togolese monitoring committee holds 4th meeting in Burkina Faso

The committee monitoring the political agreement signed last year by Togolese political parties on Saturday held its 4th session in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, urging to set up a mechanism to ameliorate coordination between the government and other electoral institutions.

Besides Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore, the one-day session also drew in delegates from the European Union and the African Union.

According to the communique issued after the meeting, the committee recommended holding weekly meetings between the government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), which will ensure the adoption of election budget plans in a deadline of 15 days and a detailed schedule for the legislature elections in June.

The committee asked the government and the CENI to hold regular press conferences and spare no efforts to guarantee the authenticity and efficacy of the news concerning the election process.

It also called for setting up an armed force for the CENI and its sub-organizations.

Major Togolese opposition party Union of Forces of Change was asked to step up its negotiation with the government and decide before the committee's next session on April 12 whether to join the government.

At talks brokered by President Compaore, Togolese rivals reached a deal on Aug. 20, 2006, and formed the new government headed by Prime Minister Yawovi Madji Agboyibo. The legislature elections are set to be held on June 24.

Source: Xinhua