Abidjan, 26 November 2009... The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (ONUCI), welcomes the posting of provisional electoral lists in polling stations and the launch of the appeals phase for registration on the electoral lists since 24 November 2009, said the Mission's Spokesperson, Hamadoun Touré in Abidjan on Thursday.

Speaking during the Mission's weekly press conference, Mr. Touré said that the success of this important phase would lead to the publication of a definitive electoral list, the production of voters cards and the new identity cards (national identity cards for Ivorians and resident cards for non-Ivorians), as well as their distribution before the holding of the presidential election in accordance with the standards accepted by the Ivorian parties.

The Spokesperson seized the occasion to reiterate UNOCI's encouragement to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Ivorian parties. He then called on them to pursue the dynamic that has been set in motion to attain an urgent crisis-resolution and obtain the best prospects for peace and development in Côte d'Ivoire.

Concerning the people who have registered and are appealing, Mr. Touré urged them "to go to their local Independent Electoral Commissions to present their appeals" He stressed that UNOCI was ready to continue with its support to the national institutions, especially the Independent Electoral Commission, to ensure the efficient implementation of the electoral programme.

The posting of the lists, said Mr. Touré, has also benefited from UNOCI's logistical support as was the case with the transportation of the provisional electoral lists and computer kits for use in local IECs, throughout the country.

With regard to journalists' concerns on whether the 38-day provided for appeals would be respected, Mr. Touré said it was not up to UNOCI to determine when this period should end. "What we can say is that we have provided our Ivorian partners with the means to respect this deadline," he explained. Mr. Touré added that UNOCI stood ready to face any eventualities with regard to logistical, financial or human resources and to help Ivorians overcome any challenges.

Moreover, Mr Touré said, UNOCI, conducted an analysis of the provisional electoral list, just as it did at the end of the identification and voter registration operation. This, he said, had showed that there was a foundation for the production of a reliable and solid definitive electoral list.

He said, however, that even if prospects and conditions were good, "vigilance is necessary so that the appeals phase and other stages – namely, the production of and distribution of cards deal and the election campaign - can take place in a peaceful environment".

Concerning the fixing of a new date for the presidential election, Mr. Touré recalled that UNOCI was more interested in focusing on the progress made so far, especially with regard to the successful organization of the identification and voter registration operation and the appeals phase. "UNOCI hopes that these factors will be taken into account when a new date is being fixed, so that it is realistic with regard to the technical aspects which are a condition for holding of presidential election but it should also be a date which responds to the aspirations and expectations of the population," said Mr. Touré.

Earlier, Mr. Touré announced that the Chief of UNOCI, Y.J. Choi was in Accra to represent the UN Secretary-General at the funeral of a UN security officer who died in Afghanistan on 28 October 2009. Lawrence Kwesi Mefful, a Ghanaian, was 46 years old and was defending a UN guest house which was being attacked by armed individuals, when he died. "He died as a hero and the United Nations will remember him'" said Mr. Choi, in a tribute during the funeral ceremony.

Before flying to Accra, Mr. Choi held discussions with President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, as part of his regular consultations with Ivoirian political stakeholders. The discussions focused on the progress and challenges of the electoral process following the posting of the provisional electoral list.

Turning to another development, Mr. Touré announced that UNOCI would be making a presentation tomorrow in Monaco, on its experience in the use of sports as a tool for peace. This presentation will be made at the Third International Peace and Sport Forum, which is taking place in the Principality. "UNOCI wants to show how it successfully integrated sports in its communication strategy for a return to peace in the country and establishment of a peaceful electoral environment".

The three-day meeting is being organised under the presidency of Prince Albert of Monaco. "45 governments, 25 international sports federations, national olympics committees, organisation committees of sports events of almost 50 NGOs, universities, renowned athletes such as Serguei Bubka, Christian Karembeu and Wilson Boit Kipketer are participating in the event," said Mr. Touré.

The Spokesperson also announced that like other peacekeeping missions around the world, UNOCI was organising a tree planting campaign entitled "Billion tree campaign" or in French: "Plantons pour la Planète". The campaign, which was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), he explained , is to sensitise the public on the need to preserve our environment and as an objective to plant at least a billion trees in the world each year".

The Botanical Gardens in Bingerville, in the outskirst of Abidjan, was chosen for the ceremony, which is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry for Water and Forest said the Spokesperson, who also reminded everyone that the campaign which "was initiated by the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, the Kenyan Wangari Maathai, is a voluntary act which demands commitment at every level".