The European Union is pleased that the first round of the Mauritanian presidential elections, on 11 March 2007, was generally peaceful. The European Union Electoral Observation Mission was privileged to be a close witness to the first round of this poll, which is crucial for a return to democracy.
The European Union congratulates the government on creating the conditions for Mauritanian voters to choose the President of the Republic completely freely, without constraint or pressure, from among various different candidates. The relatively high turnout attests to the Mauritanian people's profound desire to begin a new chapter in the history of their country and to help establish a lasting and stable democracy in the country.
The European Union is pleased to note that the government honoured its commitment to remain neutral during the electoral campaign and while the first ballot was taking place. Despite the particular circumstances, which were often difficult, the material organisation of the elections proved to be satisfactory.
The European Union hopes that the second round of the presidential elections, which is scheduled for 25 March 2007, will be calm and peaceful, in full compliance with the Mauritanian Government's commitments on transparency and neutrality.
The European Union notes that the transparency of the elections was reinforced, amongst others, by the presence of a European Union Election Observation Mission, which issued its preliminary statement on 14 March 2007.
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.
