United Nations Radio

The Secretary-General has welcomed the publication, Monday, of the provisional list of voters by the Ivoirian Independent Electoral Commission.

ONUCI assisting with electoral process

Presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire have been postponed several times. Elections, set for 29 November, have also now been postponed.

Spokesperson Michele Montas says the Secretary-General believes that with the publication of the provisional list of voters, Ivoirian parties and institutions have made significant progress towards the establishment of a consensual and transparent voters list.

"He notes that his Special Representative has endorsed the provisional list of voters as well as the process followed in compiling it. The Secretary-General now encourages all the Ivorian parties to build further on this critical milestone in order to prepare the final voters list and move forward in determining a new election date as soon as possible."

The country plunged into a crisis when an armed rebellion in 2002 split it into north and south, but leaders on both sides eventually reached an agreement to share power and reunify the country.

The Secretary-General assures the Ivoirian parties that the United Nations will continue to provide the necessary financial, technical, and logistical support to help them organize and conduct open, free, fair and transparent elections.

Diane Bailey, United Nations Radio
(duration: 1'25")