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Timor-Leste

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the second round of the presidential election in Timor-Leste

9665/07 (Presse 107)

P 41/07

Brussels, 16 May 2007 - The EU congratulates the population of Timor-Leste for the calm and orderly way in which the final round of the Presidential election was conducted on 9 May with the support of the UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). With their high turnout the Timorese people have once again demonstrated their commitment to the democratic process. The EU regards this Presidential election as an important step towards strengthening democratic structures and accountable democratic institutions.

The peaceful conduct of the election is a testament to the faith that the Timorese people have placed in a peaceful solution to the current crisis. It represents a powerful appeal by the Timorese people to their leaders to overcome antagonism and polarisation and to refrain from inflammatory language in the run-up to the Parliamentary election in June. The EU calls on all political forces to conduct the next election in the same peaceful and democratic spirit as the Presidential election, and to work together to overcome political grievances and national divisions.

The EU remains fully committed to supporting Timor-Leste in this endeavour and assisting Timor-Leste in completing this year=A2=A5s election process in June by providing an EU Election Observation mission.

The EU will continue to offer its support to Timor-Leste in addressing the challenges it faces in rebuilding the security sector, re-establishing the rule of law and bringing about the further socio-economic development of the population of Timor-Leste.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.