SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES PEACEFUL ELECTION IN TOGO,

 

SAYS SHOULD PROVIDE SOUND PLATFORM FOR TRANSITION

The following statement was issued on 24 April by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the peaceful and orderly manner in which the Togolese people turned out in large numbers to cast their votes on Sunday, 24 April 2005, for the election of a new President for their country.  Given the deep emotions felt by the different candidates and their supporters during the difficult electoral campaign, the Secretary-General commends the sense of political and civic responsibility demonstrated by the leaders and the population.  He also reiterates United Nations support for the important facilitation role played by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in helping Togo organize a peaceful and credible poll.

As the population awaits the official results, the Secretary-General appeals once again for calm and urges the parties to refer any electoral disputes to the appropriate authorities as provided for in the Electoral Code.

The Secretary-General considers that the successful and peaceful conclusion of the election would provide the people of Togo and their international partners with a sound platform on which to build a stable transition towards sustainable national reconciliation, political stability and economic recovery. 

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