United
States Calls for Government of National Unity in Togo
Washington File, May 5, 2005
DOS, Office of the Spokesman
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, meeting in Washington
May 5, agreed that "a unity government [is] an essential
step for Togo to move forward," according to a statement
issued by State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher.
The statement urged President Faure Gnassingbé, who
was sworn in May 4, to fulfill his stated goal to advance
democratic reforms in his country, and also to end violence
against opposition supporters and enter into a dialogue "leading
to a genuine power-sharing government."
Following
is the text of the statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman:
"The United States calls on Togo to form a government
of national unity. President Gnassingbé, who was sworn
in on 4 May, has stated that he aims to form a national unity
government and to advance democratic reforms. The Secretary
and President Obasanjo of Nigeria in their discussion this
morning agreed that a unity government was an essential step
for Togo to move forward. We urge Togo's two principal political
forces to enter into a dialogue leading to a genuine power-sharing
government. We strongly support efforts by the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS) to promote this. Reforming
Togo's electoral laws and institutions must be a top priority
of that government. Togo cannot afford to lose another opportunity
for peaceful national reconciliation. We stand ready to support
the people of Togo and efforts to foster national unity.
"The United States urges President Gnassingbé
to end violence against opposition supporters that has led
over 20,000 Togolese to seek refuge in neighboring Benin and
Ghana. We regret that national reconciliation in Togo suffered
a setback from the flawed electoral process, the resort to
violence by both sides and the failure of the election authority
to act in a politically neutral fashion. Brutality by security
forces and ruling party militia, and the rejection of dialog
by some opposition leaders, further set back reconciliation.”
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