Abidjan, 15 October 2008 ... The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y. J. Choi, had an exchange of ideas on Wednesday in Abidjan with Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro on the challenges that need to be met in order to move the electoral process forward.

" We are at a decisive moment of the peace process and the elections are within reach," Mr Choi told journalists after the meeting. He added that the discussions focused primarily on ways and means to face up to the logistical challenge so as to hold the elections.

The Special Representative, who had been received on Tuesday by President Laurent Gbagbo, highlighted the significant strategic advances made in the electoral process. He remarked that Ivorians, with the international community at their side, were close to the real objective.

Mr Choi indicated that he had congratulated the Prime Minister on the reassuring statements he made on identification and the voter census during an interview aired on Sunday evening on Ivorian television.

The UNOCI Chief was accompanied by the Director of the Electoral Assistance Division, Ahmedou El Becaye Seck.