United Nations Radio

Iraq elections

The head of the UN Mission in Iraq has condemned the assassination of three candidates on the eve of the country's provincial council elections. Staffan de Mistura called the murders "a terrible crime designed to attempt to disrupt the democratic process on the eve of the elections." UN Radio's Reem Abaza spoke on the line to Baghdad with Mr. Mistura about the killings and other challenges to the elections, which take place on Saturday:

STAFFAN: First of all, I condemn it very strongly, as everybody has done it here in Iraq. Secondly, I don't believe at all this will effect the elections because the Iraqi people are determined to have these elections (minor background noise). We have 14,697 candidates. Unfortunately, and very sadly, five of them have been so far killed and this is terrible. But Iraq-and the Iraqis-will go on.

REEM: So how optimistic are you?

STAFFAN: I am particularly optimistic because the feeling I'm getting from the Iraqi people that these elections are particularly significant and important for them for three reasons. First, these are the first elections taking place in 2009 when they have reacquired their own sovereignty. So it's a test for them and for the international community to watch them. Second is because these elections they can indicate the names of the people they want to choose, and that's the first time. And also because the Sunnis are most likely going to be very actively voting and that will also be a new development. And the third reason is this is about power, real power, and real accountability because we are talking about provincial council: we're talking about governorates and governors, and these are the people who are supposed to manage and deliver water, sanitation, electricity, jobs on the spot, but also be accountable since they were chosen by name-so all that is a very important test to give us a feeling in what direction Iraq, inshallah, this year will be going.

REEM: How about women's participation in this election, and how would it the future women's political participation?

STAFFAN: It's very important, and I am comforted by two things. First of all is that if you go around in Baghdad or elsewhere you will see a lot of posters showing women, and showing their faces, and showing their intention to be elected. Second, we are talking about 4,000 candidates among the 14,000 in all who are women. And three, the electoral law provides an opportunity for the women to actually vote for women, and for them to reach up to 25 per cent. And last but not least, the interpretation of the law has been made more favourable to women because instead of what used to the concept every three candidates, one should be a woman-and that was interpreted every 3 + 1; i.e. the fourth should be a woman-we have been advising and they have been accepting that the first two candidates may be men, but the third must be a woman.

REEM: What do you think about the main challenges that could threaten the fairness of this election?

STAFFAN: The main challenge is security, and the second one is distrust. On security, of course we are in the hands of those in Iraq who have been competently and actively working in order to make sure that the situation has improved. And it is improving by the day. Of course, as you saw with the five unfortunate cases of candidates being killed, that doesn't mean we have crossed completely the bridge. But there has been, I must say, (not sure) highly professionally done in order to limit to the minimum massive security problems. The second one is trust, or distrust. And that is where the UN can help, together with 400 international monitors, to make sure that all possible precautions are taking place and all possible measures to avoid the feeling, or the impression, or the fact that there could be fraud. But I think we are on that road.

PRES: Staffan de Mistura heads the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq.

Producer: Dianne Penn
(duration: 4'22"