UN Special envoy to Sudan Ashraf Qazi said on Thursday the UN was “seeing the possibilities of a free and fair election in the Sudan in 2010 following the postponement of the polls.
“Following the National Elections Commission (NEC) release of a revised time-frame for the elections to be held in April 2010, the UN Special Representative, Qazi, observed that the new timetable provided more time for voter registration, training of staff, civic and voter education.
He said the development of the budget and mobilization of international assistance were essential to help ensure a credible electoral process in Sudan.
Sudan is preparing for the elections in April, 2010 to help put in place a group of democratically-elected officials in the north and the South as dictated in a 2005 north-south peace agreement between the former rival Sudanese groups, now sharing power in a unity government.
The UN envoy acknowledged that organizing the elections required extensive planning and resources, and reaffirmed that it was a UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS’) mandate to support the NEC with its preparations for credible elections, including the provision of technical assistance and advice.
“I urge all Sudanese parties to demonstrate their full commitment to the democratic transition and to the electoral process,” Mr Qazi stated.
To that end, UNMIS stands ready to assist the NEC in its effort to deliver transparent, free and fair elections within the revised time-frame, he said.
Khartoum - 02/07/2009
Pana
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