Brussels, 13/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, who was speaking on behalf of the European Union, welcomed the way in which the general elections of 11 October had been held in Liberia and, pending proclamation of the results, she invited all parties to work towards a successful democratic electoral process (see EUROPE 10438). In a press release published on Wednesday 12 October by Ashton's spokesperson, Ashton states she is “encouraged by the initial comments from the international observers, which all indicated that the election day was peaceful and that voting and counting took place in very good order. She congratulates the Liberian people, as well as the candidates, the political parties, and the National Elections Commission (NEC) on this significant step towards the further consolidation of democracy”. She “reiterates the call to all political parties to sustain their efforts to ensure a peaceful completion of the electoral process”. (AN/transl.jl)