Abidjan, 19 November 2009... The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) on Thursday urged the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to launch the appeals phase by posting the provisional electoral list.

Speaking during the Mission's weekly press conference, UNOCI Spokesman, Hamadoun Touré deplored the delay in the posting of the list, which is due to technical, logistical and management difficulties. "UNOCI is concerned about this situation and hopes that the posting of the list, which the population is waiting for, will be organised by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), as soon as possible," he said. He also reiterated UNOCI's willingness to continue its support in an effort to overcome any possible obstacles.

Quoting the head of the Mission, Y.J. Choi, the Spokesman said that "the progress made so far has made it possible to carry out the technical processing of appeals in a peaceful environment".

With regard to its support to the electoral process, Mr. Touré said that the Mission had finished delivering copies of the list in the sous prefectures on Friday, 13 November 2009. "This operation involved more than 400 civilian and military personnel who followed 206 itineraries. The list was transported by one airplane, three helicopters and 300 vehicles," Mr. Touré explained.

UNOCI's support, the Spokesman recalled, will also involve helping the IEC during the posting of the list in Abidjan and surrounding areas, as well as in Anyama, Bingerville and Songon sous-préfectures. The United Nations development Fund is also going to help the IEC with the posting of the list.

The Mission is also in the process of transporting computers which were bought in 2008 for the local electoral commissions following a request from the IEC and UNDP, said Mr. Touré.

Asked about a meeting the IEC has called with political parties to discuss security provisions during the posting of the list, Mr. Touré suggested putting the question to the IEC. "As far as UNOCI is concerned and I can speak on its behalf, we have done what we have been asked to do. I have already given you the extent of our technical, logistical and human resources support to the IEC," he explained.

Earlier, Mr. Touré announced that as part of his regular consultations with Ivorian political actors in an effort to overcome the remaining challenges, Mr. Choi met with the leader of the Rally for Republicans party, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, on Wednesday. Similar meetings are scheduled in the next few days, said the Spokesman.