Brussels, 05/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 5 March, the European Union noted the election of Vladimir Putin, with 64% of the vote, in the Russian presidential election. It did not, however, offer him its congratulations, while the OSCE has flagged up numerous irregularities.
The European Union notes the preliminary results said Maja Kocijancic, the spokeswoman for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, indicating that the EU shares the assessment by the OSCE which has identified a number of problem areas. Kocijancic called on Russia to resolve these difficulties. Russia has a new government, and the EU hopes to support Russia in the economic and political reforms it has begun and which are essential for the modernisation of the country, she added. The EU is confident that the Russian president will be ready to take these reforms forward in dialogue with citizens and civil society, she said.
Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen said that, when there was something to be said, the Commission would communicate it. “We await a fuller report (Ed: from the OSCE). We will take things a step at a time. The president will decide when and how to offer his congratulations”, she said in response to a journalist who had expressed astonishment at José Manuel Barroso's silence.
Noting the conclusions of international observers, European Parliament President Martin Schulz stated that he was concerned that “the electoral process lacked fairness, notably with regards to a limited choice of candidates and irregularities in the procedure”. “I expect the authorities to investigate those reported irregularities quickly”, he added. The EU-Russia strategic partnership, Schultz said “should be based on the respect for values such as democracy, the rule of law and freedom of expression”.
Caution from member states. The UK foreign ministry said that it was awaiting the preliminary report by the OSCE observation team “with interest”. A ministry spokesman said that the UK was persuaded of the importance of democratic elections in Russia, as elsewhere throughout the world, and he pointed out that Russia, as a member of the Council of Europe, had to apply the key principles and rules of democracy.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was due to telephone Putin at midday on Monday “to wish him success in his forthcoming term of office, success above all in the challenges facing Russia”, a government spokesperson said.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said that “overall, and despite criticism”, Putin's first round victory was not in doubt. President Putin was, he said, France's “interlocutor for the coming years”. (CG/transl.rt)