Brussels, 16/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is following the situation in Madagascar with concern. This is linked to the list of candidates for the next presidential elections, and the EU reserves its support for the organisation of these elections in Madagascar, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton says in a press release on Thursday 16 May.
At issue is the fact that the president of the transition Andry Rajoelina, Lalao Ravalomanana, and the former president Didier Ratsiraka are standing for the elections on 24 July 2013.
“These candidatures modify the context of the elections and some of them run counter to commitments taken”, says a press release from Ashton's service. “The high representative supports the mediation efforts of the SADC (ed: the South African Development Community) as well as the recent press release from its troika (ed: the SADC cooperation body). The EU will be attentive to the conclusions of the next AU Council for Peace and Security. Respect of the transition roadmap is essential. All political forces in Madagascar must, in the interest of the country, work to create an appeased and neutral political framework for the forthcoming elections. In close coordination with its African partners, the EU will take account of the conditions for preparing the forthcoming elections in order to determine the support to be given to their organisation”, the press release continues (our translation). (AN/transl.fl)