Highlights

- SRSG discusses the electoral process with FPI leadership
- Senegalese Peacekeepers Decorated
- ONUCI Caravan Attracts huge Crowd in Korhogo

SRSG Meets Leadership of FPI

As part of his usual consultations with stakeholders in the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Côte d'Ivoire, Mr. Y.J. Choi, today met with the leadership of the FPI (Front populaire ivoirien or Ivoirian Popular Front). In the 90 minute meeting, with the President of the party Mr. Pascal Affi N'Guessan and other senior authorities, the identification and voter registration was discussed, as were other issues pertaining to the implementation of the Ouagadougou Peace Accords. The SRSG stated that the large obstacles for the nationwide launching of the identification and voter registration process had been removed. Mr. N'Guessan stated that it was important that all of the small problems that have been encountered since the pilot phase was launched on 15 September are also resolved before the process is expanded. The SRSG was accompanied by the UNOCI Force Commander and the heads of the Electoral Assistance Division and Political Affairs division.

UN Peacekeeping Medal Ceremony in San Pedro

More than 250 officers and soldiers from the Senegalese Battalion based in St. Pedro and Tabou (southwest of Côte d'Ivoire) received UN medals to commemorate their contribution to the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire. The Sector West military commander Rashid Khan presided over the ceremony, and thanked the government of Senegal and the armed forces of Senegal for their participation to promote peace in West Africa. The Senegalese Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire Mr. Moustapha Sène and the Prefet of the Bas-Sassandra region Mr. Jacques Obouo also assisted at the ceremony.

ONUCI Sensitization Continues in North

The ONUCI Artistic Caravan, consisting of theatre groups, dancers and well-known musicians, set-up shop in the Cultural Center of Korhogo today. The focus of today's sensitization is on the mandate of the UN peacekeeping operation, with special emphasis on the 1000 micro-projects to support the reinsertion process of ex-combatants and the electoral process. Tomorrow the Caravan will be in Bouaké, the second largest city in Cote d'Ivoire.

Embargo Inspections

UNOCI Military and Police successfully conducted two arms embargo inspections yesterday, one in Abidjan at the 3rd Infantry Battalion located in Anyama, and in Korhogo, at the FAFN FANSARA 110 unit.