EU Presidency Declaration on elections in Ethiopia

The European Union congratulates the people of Ethiopia on the calm and dignified way in which they took part in federal and regional parliamentary elections on 15 May 2005.

Those elections mark an important step in the process of democratisation and regional stabilisation in Ethiopia, which is an irreversible one.

The European Union welcomes the invitation of international election observers by the Ethiopian authorities and in particular the fact that the EU mission, present throughout the electoral procedure, was able to observe polling in the various parts of the country. The EU would refer to the comments made by its mission on 17 May 2005 concerning both positive aspects and reported irregularities, which will need to be looked into later. The European Union underlines that its election-observer mission will continue to monitor the remaining part of the electoral process and will be present for the Somali region parliamentary election, due to be held on 21 August 2005.

The European Union recalls that official statements on the results of voting will be provided after votes have been counted by the National Election Board and that any other declaration on the results is therefore premature.

The European Union urges all parties to employ the electoral-dispute mechanisms to resolve any disagreements regarding the elections.

The European Union urges all political leaders to cooperate and to work in a spirit of mutual respect and dialogue in this post-electoral period, both during the forthcoming announcement of the results and for the inauguration of the new assemblies, ensuring a peaceful democratic process, in accordance with the rule of law and in strict observance of human rights. The European Union remains at the disposal of the parties for any support needed during this crucial phase of the process.

The European Union calls on the people of Ethiopia to honour the commitment to democratic values shown by them during the elections and await the final results calmly and in compliance with legal procedures.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia *, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves on this declaration.

* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

| Top |

• EUHR Solana contacts Ethiopian PM Meles (4/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement on Ethiopian Elections (29/8/2005)
• Joint EU-US Statement on Ethiopia (13/7/2005)
• EU Presidency Declaration on Ethiopia (13/6/2005)
• EU Presidency Declaration on Ethiopia (10/6/2005)
• European Commission urges compromise to resolve Ethiopian crisis (9/6/2005)
• EU Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia deployed (18/3/2005)