Brussels, 13/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following an invitation by the Kenyan authorities, the EU will be monitoring the forthcoming general elections on 27 December 2007 in this country in the Horn of Africa. The deployment of the electoral observation mission began on 13 November, when the core team of eleven left for Kenya under the leadership of Alexandre Graf Lambsdorff MEP (Germany). A total of 36 long term observers will be deployed at the end of November to assess the campaign period and pre-election preparations around the country. 90 short term observers will join the mission over the election-day period to observe voting, counting and the tabulation of results. The mission will stay in the country for a number of weeks after the election-day in order to assess the post-election period. In a press release, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, said: “Kenya is a beacon of stability in the horn of Africa. Credible elections carried out at international standards would endorse Kenya as a stability factor in the region and would allow it to continue its political transition to a sustainable democracy. I believe that by observing these elections, we will contribute to the consolidation and further advancement of democracy in Kenya." (A.N.)