SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES NEW KENYAN PRESIDENT, COMMENDS WELL ORGANIZED, CREDIBLE ELECTORAL PROCESS

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES NEW KENYAN PRESIDENT,

COMMENDS WELL ORGANIZED, CREDIBLE ELECTORAL PROCESS

The following statement, issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan, was also issued earlier in Nairobi:

The Secretary-General welcomes the news that the general elections in Kenya have been conducted in a peaceful manner.  He offers his warm congratulations to President Mwai Kibaki and the National Rainbow Coalition for their electoral success.  He commends the people of Kenya for their enthusiastic and orderly participation in the elections.

The Secretary-General commends President Daniel arap Moi and the electoral authorities of Kenya for overseeing a well-organized and credible electoral process.  He also commends the Kenya African National Union for accepting the electoral result.

The Secretary-General reiterates that the United Nations will continue to support the efforts of the new Government and people of Kenya to consolidate the democratic process, improve governance and foster economic development.  He looks forward to working closely with the Government in support of its lead role in efforts to facilitate a negotiated settlement of the conflicts in Somalia and Sudan.

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