Brussels, 18/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU has agreed to the request from Côte d'Ivoire to observe its presidential elections scheduled for 31 October, and will send 120 observers.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton sees these elections as “an important step of the peace process in Ivory Coast and corner stone in consolidating democracy”. They represent “a great challenge, since they have been postponed several times and will be the first presidential elections in Ivory Coast in 10 years”. The high representative hopes, therefore that “the electoral environment will be conducive to peaceful elections and that Ivoirian voters will be able to express themselves in a serene atmosphere”.
Deployment of the electoral observation team began on 7 October, with the arrival of a first team of experts responsible for coordinating operations. MEP Cristian Dan Preda (EPP, Romania) will be the chief observer.
A team of long term observers (LTOs) will shortly be sent to assess how the electoral campaign goes off. The delegation of MEPs which will take part in this operation is currently being prepared. Short term observers will come in to assist them on the eve of the election to monitor how the day passes off, the counting of votes and the announcement of results. The mission will continue working for a few weeks after the election to monitor the post-electoral period. (A.N./transl.rt)