Brussels, 29/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - After visiting Somalia, Nairobi was where High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton brought her African tour to an end, meeting Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya on Tuesday 28 August. This was an occasion for Ashton to call for the organisation of free and democratic elections at the next national election planned for March 2013, and to reiterate her support for the people of Kenya in building democracy, security and prosperity in their country.
Ashton expressed her desire “to hear more about the new constitution” in Kenya and assured her listener of the EU's determination to support the country “in securing peaceful elections”. For this the EU will send an electoral observation mission and will support the setting up of the electoral commission.
Her meetings also enabled her to observe the convergence of views between the EU and Kenya on several African dossiers. Kenya is an ally of the EU in the region and in particular in the fight against piracy, which is a direct threat to the country as it is to the whole international community.
“I am very pleased by the fact that the number of piracy incidents has dropped from 65 in 2010 to this year only five, which is five too many but this is nevertheless a significant reduction”, Ashton said, mentioning the success of the EUNAVFOR operation. The start of a new civil mission under security and defence policy, EUCAP Nestor, approved by the Council in July to strengthen regional maritime capacity-building in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean states should increase pressure on the pirates. In Kenya, EUCAP Nestor will provide support to the judiciary and to the maritime security agencies.
On the question of Sudan and South Sudan, Ashton and Odinga are “fully in agreement as regards supporting the comprehensive peace agreement and all the work that is going on to find solutions to the challenges that remain”. (AN/transl.fl)