Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission made today the following statement:

"I welcome the peaceful conduct of the Presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan. However, some important shortcomings in the implementation of electoral legislation, especially concerning the voters’ list and the counting and tabulation of votes, underscore the need to improve the integrity of the electoral process. In this regard, I note the statement made by the OSCE/ODIHR, the OSCE and the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assemblies and the European Parliament. These elections constitute a final step in the process of transition from provisional institutions, installed in times of crisis, to legitimate state authorities, established through democratic elections. The EU has rendered support for every stage of this process. The Presidential elections are also an important milestone towards the establishment of constitutional order and further democratic consolidation of the country. While waiting for the final outcome of the elections, I wish to reiterate to Kyrgyzstan the EU’s readiness to continue its support for the necessary reforms in the country, in particular in the areas of rule of law and socio-economic development, which should go hand-in-hand with further national reconciliation, consistent progress on democratic reforms and full respect for human rights in Kyrgyzstan. "

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