21 August 2000

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: The first of 140 electoral observers recruited by the Bonn-based United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) arrived in Ivory Coast at the weekend to assist institutions and communities prepare the West African country's upcoming presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections.

The first group of 10 UN Volunteers -- four Italians, three French, two Portuguese and a Dutchman -- have had previous experience in electoral assistance. These long-term electoral observers (LTOs) will be concentrated in the most populated regions and the districts of the economic capital of Abidjan. They will cover all of the elections, including a first round of presidential elections scheduled for 17 September; a possible second round on 8 October; parliamentary polls on 29 October; and municipal elections on 19 November.

Ten additional LTOs will join the first team at the end of August and leave after the legislative elections. A final group of 20 LTOs will arrive in Ivory Coast in the first week of September to cover the presidential elections and to assist other LTOs in deploying an additional 100 short-term observers just ahead of the first round of voting.

Working under this project financed by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UNV observers will also support the international observation of the electoral process, which will be spearheaded by the EU Observation Unit.

In addition, they will make contact with district and local election administrators, political parties and community groups. They will observe and analyse the electoral process, including pre-election preparations, the vote, the count, access of political parties to media and their ability to hold meetings. As observers, the UNVs are to watch and report without intervening in the conduct of the elections.

Since 1993, UNV has recruited more than 5,000 experienced electoral specialists to organize and observe polls worldwide. In 1999 alone, 801 UN Volunteers were recruited to provide electoral assistance in nine countries and the territory of East Timor.