European Union (EU) delegation Chief Michel Arrion reaffirmed
the EU support for the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire after a
meeting with members of the country's Independent Electoral
Committee (CEI) on Monday.
It is definitely possible for Cote d'Ivoire to meet the election
scheduled in October, said Arrion, urging that all Cote d'Ivoire
leaders should attach importance to elements guaranteeing a just
and transparent election.
Arrion said the EU would continue providing financial aid to
Cote d'Ivoire after € 93.2 million (about US$115.6 million) had
been provided for its reconstruction work and € 7.9 million (about
US$9.8 million) for presidential and parliamentary elections.
He added the EU had been a privileged partner of Cote d'Ivoire
for 40 years, and it was a tradition of cooperation.
Despite various peace deals, Cote d'Ivoire remains divided
between a government-held south and rebel-controlled north after
its 2002-2003 civil war.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution last October and
endorsed the African Union's suggestion to extend Cote d'Ivoire's
President Laurent Gbagbo's five-year term mandate by one more
year.
The UN also hoped the war-torn country could hold its
presidential election by no later than Oct. 30 this year.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2006)
