EU Presidency Statement regarding the elections held in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 30 July, 2006

Press Release 265/2006
29 July 2006

The citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo are voting in the presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, 30th of July, 2006. After waiting for 40 years, the citizens of Congo are finally able to exercise their right to vote, a right that has been denied them for a long time, and freely elect their representatives in the democratic and open elections.

The organising of the elections has been an immense challenge. It would not have succeeded without the efforts of the citizens of Congo, and especially the independent election commission and the European Union, as well as other international partners of Congo to organise the elections in the best possible circumstances.

The European Union presidency, with the Congolese organisations and other international partners of the Democratic Republic of Congo, encourage the Congolese to actively exercise their right to vote.

The work done is rewarded during the elections and it is important to remind that the right to vote is one of the foundations for democracy, which is the goal of the citizens of Congo.

On the threshold of this historic moment, the EU presidency wishes the citizens of Congo peaceful elections, which will hopefully begin a new era.