Australia to help Burma with 2014 elections

Posted 16 October 2012, 13:05 AEST    

Australia has outlined how it will assist Burma to organise the Parliamentary and Presidential polls for 2014.

Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr met with Burma's representative to the United Nations in New York, Than Swe.

Senator Carr says Australia will be lending experience and personnel to Burma to develop electoral systems and help with the registration of political parties.

"There have been further democratic reforms towards freedom of expression and laying down the rules for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2041," Senator Carr said.

"The continued commitment of President Thein Sein has been underlined on a number of occasions," he said, adding that he will lobby other nations to support softening the language used in an annual UN resolution condemning Burma's government.

The current resolution is critical of the Burmese government's democratic and human rights record, but Bob Carr wants it changed to reflect the progress that has been made.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-10-16/australia-to-help-burma-with-2014-elections/1031160