The European Union takes note of the provisional results of the Presidential elections which were held on 2 March in the Russian Federation and congratulates the newly elected President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev.
The EU takes note of the fact that the elections took place in a generally calm and peaceful manner. The EU regrets, however, that the OSCE/ODIHR had to conclude that a meaningful election observation mission was not feasible.
The EU also regrets that the electoral process did not allow for truly competitive elections. The lack of equal media access for the opposition candidates is of particular concern.
The EU recalls the mutual interest to enhance a strategic partnership with the Russian Federation in the political, economic, cultural, scientific and other spheres. The EU expresses the hope that this partnership with Russia will be further strengthened and developed constructively during the tenure of Mr Dmitry Medvedev as President of the Russian Federation. The EU is looking forward to the implementation of political and social reforms, the strengthening of rule of law and individual freedoms as well as the economic modernisation announced by him during his election campaign.
The Candidate Countries Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
