SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE PRESIDENTIAL POLL DATE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire of 29 November 2009 as the date for holding the long-awaited presidential election.  The Secretary-General notes that this date was set based on advice received from the Independent Electoral Commission.  He urges all Ivorian parties to respect this date and to work together to complete the remaining tasks related to the electoral process.

The Secretary-General assures the Ivorian parties that the United Nations will continue to provide the necessary support to help them organize and conduct free, fair and credible elections, including through the certification mandate of his Special Representative for Côte d’Ivoire.

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For information media • not an official record