TOP UN ENVOY TO IRAQ MONITORS PROGRESS OF ELECTION PREPARATIONS

TOP UN ENVOY TO IRAQ MONITORS PROGRESS OF ELECTION PREPARATIONS New York, Mar 19 2008 5:00PM Iraq's independent electoral administrators must remain transparent in their work as they prepare for governorate council polls later this year, the senior United Nations envoy to the country said today after visiting their Baghdad headquarters.

Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, toured the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and observed its efforts to select 6,500 staff members to work at 550 voter registration centres across the country.

The board of commissioners of IHEC provided Mr. de Mistura with an update of preparations to hold the governorate council elections by 1 October, and also told him that further preparations depended on funding and the passage of an election law by the Council of Representatives.

"I'm pleased to see that efforts are under way to prepare for an update of the voter registry and elections," Mr. de Mistura said after the meeting, stressing the importance of IHEC remaining transparent and professional in its dealings.

The envoy also assured IHEC of the continuous support of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) in the election process.
2008-03-19 00:00:00.000

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