Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK1045
2008-11-08 00:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

UNSC PRESSURES COTE D'IVOIRE FOR ELECTIONS

Tags:  PGOV PREL IV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1045 3130054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080054Z NOV 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5323
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN PRIORITY 1370
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001045 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IV
SUBJECT: UNSC PRESSURES COTE D'IVOIRE FOR ELECTIONS
FOLLOWING LATEST DELAY

REF: A. USUN 931

B. UNSC S/2008/PRST/42

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001045

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IV
SUBJECT: UNSC PRESSURES COTE D'IVOIRE FOR ELECTIONS
FOLLOWING LATEST DELAY

REF: A. USUN 931

B. UNSC S/2008/PRST/42


1. (SBU) The Security Council adopted a Presidential
Statement (Ref. B) on November 7 urging all Ivorian parties
to cooperate fully to ensure free, fair, and transparent
elections as soon as possible. This was in response SRSG
Choi's report to the Council on October 27 which noted
elections in Cote d'Ivoire would need to be delayed until at
least spring 2009. Choi warned if elections were not held by
the spring, restricted travel during the summer rainy season
would force a delay until fall. While French PermRep Ripert
noted on October 27 that a delay beyond spring 2009 would
indicate a lack of political will of the major Ivorian
players, others in the French mission say that fall 2009
elections would be acceptable.


2. (SBU) Choi noted in his briefing fewer than 800,000 out of
11 million Ivorians had been identified and only 500,000 out
of 9 million expected eligible voters been enrolled. Choi
also explained elections could only be scheduled four months
following voter enrollment, since making and distributing
election cards and organizing polling stations ould take at
least that long. Cote d'Ivoire President Gbagbo is expected
to officially announce the election delay November 10,
according to the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire.
Khalilzad