Abidjan 12 August 2008......... The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, on Tuesday met with the President of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Robert Mambé Beugré at the headquarters of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

The meeting, which was also attended by the Chief of the Mission's Electoral Assistance Division, Mr. Ahmedou El Becaye Seck, focused on the latest developments in the Ivorian electoral process and UNOCI's support for it.

Mr. Beugré thanked the head of UNOCI for the Mission's help in airlifting last weekend equipment for the identification and registration of the population, a key stage in the electoral process.

Mr. Choi assured the president of the IEC of UNOCI's availability to provide all the assistance possible to the Ivorian institutions and authorities, within its mandate to accompany the process.

He also underlined the importance of respecting the deadline of 30 November 2008, for the holding of presidential elections.