The European Union and Kenya's other international partners welcomed the power-sharing agreement signed by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga on 28 February. The agreement was an important step towards peace and reconciliation within the framework of the National Dialogue, brokered by the Panel of Eminent African Personalities led by Kofi Annan.
On 2 April, Mr Annan expressed serious concern over the failure to compose and announce a coalition government. The EU shares his concern and urges the parties to maintain the momentum for reconciliation by forming an effective and efficient coalition government as soon as possible that reflects genuine power-sharing between Kenya's parties. This is a key milestone upon which implementation of the agreement depends.
The EU reiterates its commitment to support meaningful power-sharing and to working with the new Kenyan Government, once it is formed, to put Kenya back on the path to prosperity and stability.
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, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
