The UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) noted with satisfaction on Thursday that the population identification and voter registration process, which is observing a two-week break, passed the six-million mark on 30 March 2009.
Speaking at UNOCI's weekly press conference, the mission's spokesman, Hamadoun Touré, recalled that this had been achieved despite the delays and difficulties on the ground. This is why, he said, UNOCI encourages the Ivorian parties "to pursue the efforts they have made so as to open the last remaining 298 centres out of a total of 11,020 that were envisaged".
He also gave an update on the reconstitution of destroyed or lost civil registers. In this regard, he disclosed that, according to information received by the mission, 40,400 applications had been approved thus far by the Administrative Commissions out of a total of 104,182 registered thus far. This legal phase is being done concomitantly with the administrative phase, he stressed. Where this phase is concerned, 8,368 applications have been received, of which 750 have been accepted, while 254 of the 255 commissions envisaged have started their activities, he disclosed.
With regard to the mission's activities, the Spokesman announced that UNOCI was conducting a training seminar on human rights in the western town of Man for about 50 officers of the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN). "The aim is to contribute to a reduction in the serious cases of human rights violations noted in the field, particularly in that area," Mr. Touré explained.
Turning to another field of activity, he stressed the active role played by UNOCI in the polio vaccination campaign. In addition to logistical support in the form of providing air and land transport throughout the Ivorian territory for the doctors supervising the campaign, along with the vaccines, vitamin A doses and de-worming medicines, the UN mission is taking care of the security aspect of the operation. According to Mr Touré, United Nations military and police have been deployed to that end in areas reputed to be difficult to reach. This consistent support has led facilitated a good result. "A record vaccination-coverage rate of 99 percent was attained," he said. "During the first phase, from 27 February to 2 March, the rate was 93%".

Finally, he announced that the Moroccan batallion deployed in Duékoué had extinguished a fire at the town's market on the evening of Wednesday 1 April.

Responding to journalists' queries about the need to set a new transitional period, the Spokesman said this was an Ivorian matter and that the international community, which is seeking to remain focused on the progress of the peace process, especially the implementation of Ouagadougou IV, was avoiding any involvement in it.

« We are avoiding any involvement in other disputes or other debates that might not be directly linked to the mandate for which we are here, » he said.

" That said, we are seeking to ensure that nothing is done to compromise the acquired results and the progress that has been registered, » he stated further, adding that UNOCI was encouraging the Ivorian parties to continue along the path set in order to achieve this.