02 January 2008

Statement by United States, United Kingdom on Situation in Kenya

Pledge diplomatic, political efforts to support reconciliation, unity in Kenya

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 2, 2008

Media Note

Joint Statement by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Situation in Kenya

Following is the text of a joint statement, issued earlier today by the Government of the United Kingdom, by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband on the situation in Kenya.

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We have closely followed the events in Kenya over the last 48 hours.  We congratulate the Kenyan people on their commitment to democracy.  However there are independent reports of serious irregularities in the counting process.  The immediate priority is to combine a sustained call from Kenya's political leaders for the cessation of violence by their followers with an intensive political and legal process that can build a united and peaceful future for Kenya.  In that context we welcome the call by the African Union for the parties to end the violence; we call on all political leaders to engage in a spirit of compromise that puts the democratic interests of Kenya first; we applaud the commitment of the EU and Commonwealth as well as the AU to stay engaged at this important moment for democracy in Africa; and we pledge the diplomatic and political efforts of our two countries to support reconciliation and national unity at this vital time for Kenya and the region.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)