The European Union has hailed last month's legislative elections in Mongolia as an important step in strengthening democracy in the mineral-rich Central Asian nation, and said it looks forward to the smooth formation of a new government that will work for the benefit and prosperity of the Mongolian people.
"The EU and Mongolia share many common values. Respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law are at the heart of our relationship. I look forward to further deepening of our relations when we sign a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in the near future," EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement on Tuesday.
The June 28 polls were for electing members to the 76-seat unicameral legislature. Preliminary results indicated that the Opposition Democratic Party has captured more votes than the ruling Mongolian People's Party, but not enough to form a government on its own.
Currently, both the Democratic Party as well as the Mongolian People's Party were engaged in separate talks with smaller parties on the formation of a coalition government. Announcement of final poll results was delayed due to technical problems connected with the newly-introduced automated counting system.
Run-up to the elections was marred by the arrest of former President Nambaryn Enkhbayar on corruption charges. Enkhbayar, who was Mongolia's President from 2005 to 2009, was arrested on April 13 for failing to appear for questioning on graft charges.
Enkhbayar was released on bail in May after he went on a hunger-strike protesting his detention. Nevertheless, charges against him were not withdrawn. The charges reportedly include stealing a donation of television equipment worth about $113,000 meant to go to a Buddhist monastery in 2000 and not paying duties to ship eight volumes of a book he authored from South Korea to Mongolia.
Enkhbayar and his family insist that the case was part of an attempt by the government to prevent him from making a political comeback after losing the May 2009 elections to incumbent President Elbegdorj Tsakhia. However, Enkhbayar's newly-formed Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) had contested in the June 28 polls.
The European Union had earlier urged authorities to ensure that Enkhbayar was "treated transparently and with full respect for democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights."
by RTTNews Staff Writer
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