Prospect for Ivorian elections before May "not encouraging," says UN envoy
Prospect for Ivorian elections before May "not encouraging," says UN envoy
09:34, March 18, 2010 
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The UN envoy to Cote d' Ivoire expressed disappointment on Wednesday that the long-awaited presidential election has been delayed once again, particularly amidst a recent escalation of violence, saying that the prospect for holding the polls as scheduled "is not encouraging."
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Cote d' Ivoire Choi Young-Jin told reporters that he did not expect the elections to take place before May.
"It is quite regrettable to see the elections once again delayed," Choi told the Council. "As illustrated by the recent violence in various parts of the country which has resulted in 12 deaths and a score of seriously injured persons, the current election-reunification dynamics may cause additional violent demonstrations and casualties."
"It is not encouraging," he told reporters here after he briefed the 15-nation Security Council on the latest development in the West African country.
After six postponements, elections were slated for March. A new date has not been set.
Under the Ouagadougou Political Agreement with the African Union, the Ivorian presidential elections should be held by May 2010.
Choi briefed the Security Council in a closed-door session on the situation in the West African nation, which has been strained by a weakened electoral process and reoccurring violence.
During his briefing, Choi said that the UN Operation in Cote d' Ivoire (UNOCI) has put into place three objectives for the immediate future, which include maintaining peace and stability, safeguarding the achievement of a provisional electoral list, as well as establishing a definitive electoral list as "expeditiously as possible."
Originally intended to be held as far back as 2005, the polls have been repeatedly postponed threatening political reunification.
On Feb. 12, President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the government and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which he accused of fraudulently adding more than 400,000 names to the electoral roll.
The move casts doubt on when the long-delayed elections would occur.
Last Thursday, Choi met with the new President of the IEC Issouf Bakayoko, to discuss reenergizing a stalled electoral process and cooperation with the UNOCI in the run-up to the elections.
Source: Xinhua
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Cote d' Ivoire Choi Young-Jin told reporters that he did not expect the elections to take place before May.
"It is quite regrettable to see the elections once again delayed," Choi told the Council. "As illustrated by the recent violence in various parts of the country which has resulted in 12 deaths and a score of seriously injured persons, the current election-reunification dynamics may cause additional violent demonstrations and casualties."
"It is not encouraging," he told reporters here after he briefed the 15-nation Security Council on the latest development in the West African country.
After six postponements, elections were slated for March. A new date has not been set.
Under the Ouagadougou Political Agreement with the African Union, the Ivorian presidential elections should be held by May 2010.
Choi briefed the Security Council in a closed-door session on the situation in the West African nation, which has been strained by a weakened electoral process and reoccurring violence.
During his briefing, Choi said that the UN Operation in Cote d' Ivoire (UNOCI) has put into place three objectives for the immediate future, which include maintaining peace and stability, safeguarding the achievement of a provisional electoral list, as well as establishing a definitive electoral list as "expeditiously as possible."
Originally intended to be held as far back as 2005, the polls have been repeatedly postponed threatening political reunification.
On Feb. 12, President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the government and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which he accused of fraudulently adding more than 400,000 names to the electoral roll.
The move casts doubt on when the long-delayed elections would occur.
Last Thursday, Choi met with the new President of the IEC Issouf Bakayoko, to discuss reenergizing a stalled electoral process and cooperation with the UNOCI in the run-up to the elections.
Source: Xinhua
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