23 November 2000

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: Seventeen long-term electoral observers recruited by the Bonn-based United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) arrived today in Ivory Coast's economic capital Abidjan where they joined 14 colleagues to assist institutions and communities prepare the West African country's legislative elections on 10 December.

The latest arrivals include nationals of France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg. Working under this project financed by the European Union (EU), 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.

They are preparing for the arrival of 65 short-term electoral observers, who will be deployed around the country by 6 December for two-week assignments as UN Volunteers during the period immediately preceding and following the polls.

Thirty-two long-term observers were deployed to Ivory Coast ahead of last month's presidential election, which brought long-time opposition leader Laurent Gbagbo to power. More than half of the UN Volunteers working during this period have since returned home.

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.