Côte d’Ivoire / UNOCI Deputy Representative discusses preparations for presidential election with civil society
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, November 25, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d’Ivoire, Ndolamb Ngokwey, on Wednesday, met with members of Ivorian civil society to discuss preparations for the second round of the presidential election on 28 November 2010.
Mr. Ndolamb and the members of civil society groups discussed the transportation of the tally reports and electoral material and security provisions at polling stations. « We are working with transparency. We would like the second round to be like the first in terms of voters’ enthusiasm, calm and spirit of fair play,” said the Deputy Special Representative.
On the issue of security provisions for the second round, he explained that the main responsibility rested with the Integrated Command Centre, adding that; “UNOCI will only provide support just as it did during the first round”.
The civil society members, for their part, suggested that in order to avoid suspicion, a monitoring committee comprising NGOs, observers, civil society and UNOCI, should be set up to escort the tally reports from the polling stations to the local electoral commissions. They also asked that the period for challenging the election results be extended.
On the first point, the Deputy Special Representative said that the implementation of their suggestion depended on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), adding that the civil society members should also raise the issue of extending the period for challenging the results with the same institution.
The meeting, which was held in UNOCI’s headquarters in Abidjan, is part of regular consultations between the Mission and members of civil society and the stakeholders in the election in Côte d’Ivoire.
SOURCE
Mission of UN in Côte d’Ivoire
