Brussels, 03/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - Expressing doubt about the results of the presidential elections in Kenya won by Mwai Kibaki, the EU voiced concern about the violence that followed the proclamation of results validated by the Kenyan electoral commission. While paying tribute to the electoral duty accomplished by the Kenyan people in “calm and dignity”, the EU calls on all political parties to find a democratic solution, by legal means, to allow the country to safeguard its status as a model of democracy in the Horn of Africa region.
Krisztina Nagy, Spokeswoman for the European Commission who answered press questions on the subject of the alleged irregularities, replied on 3 January that most of the members of the EU electoral observation mission are still in the country and that examination of the irregularities is still underway. Nonetheless, during a press conference on 1 January, the head of the mission noted problems in the counting of votes in the circumscriptions, she said.
In a press release published on 1 January, the EU Presidency welcomed the determination of the Kenyan people to implement its fundamental democratic right. Nonetheless, “following concerns raised by the EU election observers about alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Presidential elections, the Presidency urges all parties to pursue dialogue and appropriate juridical means to find a credible and transparent solution in line with democratic standards”.
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) had urged the political leaders to tackle the problem of the irregularities noted by European and non-European observers. “It is important that these irregularities are corrected through dialogue and an adequate process of appeal to ensure that the result of the election has everyone's support (…) all violence must be avoided. In a region that is already fragile, it is important that Kenya remains a model of democracy”, states a press release published on 31 December by the services of the EU Foreign Policy Chief. (A.N.)