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EU pledges to support Sata

EU pledges to support Sata
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 28 Sep. 2011, 13:59 CAT

EUROPEAN Union (EU) president José Manuel Durao Barroso says the EU is ready to support President Michael Sata in leading Zambia towards prosperity, long-lasting democracy and poverty reduction.

In his congratulatory note to President Sata, Barroso assured the newly-elected President that the EU-Zambia cooperation would continue to focus on supporting President Sata's efforts for poverty reduction and sustainable development.

"Dear Mr President, On behalf of the European Union, I would like to congratulate you on your election as President of the Republic of Zambia. I am pleased to note that, once again, the citizens of Zambia were able to express their democratic choices as enshrined in the Zambian Constitution," Barroso said.

"I am fully confident that a constructive dialogue on all economic and political areas will be of mutual benefit to Zambia and the European Union."

And High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice-president of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, congratulated President Sata on his election and Zambians for the successful conduct of the 2011 general elections.

Ashton said the elections and the peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box strengthened Zambia's position as an example of democratic culture in the region and elsewhere.

"I would also like to commend the Zambian population for their determination to ensure peaceful elections," Ashton said. "I congratulate Michael Sata on his election as President.

I am very keen to maintain and deepen our relations with Zambia and to strengthen the long-standing partnership between Zambia and the EU. I also commend outgoing president, Rupiah Banda, for his commitment to civil and political rights which made these elections possible.

She commended the chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission in Zambia, Maria Muriz de Urquiza, who is also a member of the European Parliament and her team of 80 observers from EU member states, for the important work they undertook.

"As a long-standing partner, the EU will continue to support Zambia in its efforts to promote the country's social and economic development," the EU delegation in Zambia stated.

Labels: EU, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 3:53 PM