Brussels, 22/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 21 June, the Swedish Presidency adopted a declaration on behalf of the European Union in which, "Noting the Constitutional Council's decision to declare the outgoing President, Idriss Deby, victor in the first round of the presidential election, the EU regrets the many shortcomings in the organisation of the poll and the resultant irregularities." In particular, "the EU is concerned about the restriction of liberties observed during the electoral period and deplores the use of force against public demonstrations and the brief but brutal questioning of all the opposition candidates." The EU "points out that its partnership with Chad is based on respect for democratic values and fundamental freedoms," and, "realising that democracy in Chad is emerging in a difficult context," it "welcomes the calm shown by and mobilisation of the population on the occasion of the poll and hopes that the democratic process will in future take hold." "The EU will therefore pay attention to the measures that the Chadian government adopts to ensure progress in the organisation of polls, in particular on the occasion of the next legislative elections", the declaration concludes. (The full text may be found on the Cfsp site of the Council's "Newsroom": http: //ue.eu.int/Newsroom)