Brussels, 03/08/2006 (Agence Europe) - Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations, welcomes in a press release the first conclusions of the EU Electoral Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) headed by MEP Philippe Morillon, which stress the population's public-spiritedness and the remarkable devotion of the electoral agents in organising voting and vote counting operations for the elections that took place on 30 July (see related article and EUROPE 9243 and 9245). With nearly 300 observers deployed throughout the country, this is the “biggest electoral observation mission ever set in place by the European Union”, she said, going on to add: “Some variations observed in the application of electoral procedure the day of the vote were, however, noted by observers and the Mission is now looking into this very carefully. I wish to stress my concern about the tension and inconsistencies that marked the pre-electoral period, especially access by the different presidential candidates to the media and to the public. I call on all the candidates and their supporters to show a sense of responsibility and maintain the climate of calm and serenity that will be vital in coming days and throughout the process. I call on the players involved in the electoral process to use the procedures foreseen in the electoral legislation should they wish to file complaints (…). Given the vastness of the country and the complexity of the electoral system, it will be necessary to make a detailed and thorough examination of the observations made by the monitors in order to asses the electoral process (…). Observers continue to closely follow the different stages in establishing the results, after which the Mission will issue a new analysis. It will publish its final report after closure of the Mission that will take on board recommendations with a view to organising the next elections”.
A joint statement was published on 1 August in Kinshasa by the international election observation missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the EU, ECCAS, the OIF, The Carter Centre, the SADC and the EISA, in which they state that they are impressed by the high turnout of Congolese voters, both men and women, and by the participation of the political parties and national observers. They congratulate the Congolese people for the serene and dignified climate in which the elections were held, bearing witness to the fact that the people want this historic electoral process to be a success. The international missions also note the sense of duty and devotion of the electoral agents and the considerable challenge raised by the independent electoral commission in the exercise of its mission. The international observation missions continue to evaluate the electoral process and will do so until it is fully completed.