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Election agreement signed by Prime Minister and United Nations
Development Program, 25 September 2006
The Prime Minister Dr José Ramos-Horta signed an agreement
with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) today providing
for technical and logistical support during the 2007 Presidential
and Parliamentary elections in Timor-Leste.
The UNDP support protocol that was signed today is part of UN
efforts to assist the presidential and parliamentary elections.
It complements activities that will be supported by the UN Integrated
Mission and national authorities.
The new UN mission will certify the electoral process on the
basis of benchmarks and will provide technical assistance in policy
advice and election administration. This UNDP project will focus
on training national and international observers and party agents;
procurement; civic and voter education activities.
A certification team will oversee each of the phases of the process
of the elections and will certify that international standards
are being adhered to. Mr. Finn Reske-Nielsen, acting Special Representative
of the Secretary General for Timor-Leste and Resident Representative
of the UN Development Program, signed the agreement.
"I would like to thank UNDP and the international community
for contributing assistance over the next few months as we move
towards the elections in 2007," Dr Ramos-Horta said.
"The Government will do its utmost to cooperate with all
interested parties, with all the stakeholders - first to ensure
that everything is done in a fair and transparent manner that
is beyond reproach. The Government will be working hard to create
the political and security conditions for all parties to be able
to exercise their democratic rights.
"I look forward to the next months with confidence, that
working together with UNDP and the international community, all
Timorese can participate in the elections with confidence."
Mr. Finn Reske-Nielsen said UNDP looked forward to working closely
with the Government and all interested parties so that the 2007
elections would be a great success.
"The new Mission intends to work hard to support Timor-Leste
in all aspects of the elections," he said. "This will
include technical and logistical support, electoral policy advice
and verification or other means."
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