11 February - UNMIS supports a Workshop on Building Confidence in Peaceful Elections

15 Feb 2010

11 February - UNMIS supports a Workshop on Building Confidence in Peaceful Elections

In a joint effort between the Political Parties Affairs Council (PPAC) and UNMIS Electoral Assistance Division, and in collaboration with the National Elections Commission (NEC) and UNDP, a Workshop on "Building Confidence in Peaceful Elections" was organized today at Al Salam Rotana Hotel in Khartoum.

The purpose of this workshop is to generate trust and confidence by building steps that enhance and strengthen the PPAC and its role in relation to political parties that extend throughout and beyond the election period. Additionally, the workshop aims at contributing directly to creating an electoral climate that is conducive to free and fair elections.

Over 200 Sudanese political parties representatives, senior members of the PPAC, the National Elections Commission (NEC) and representatives from UNMIS have attended the workshop.

On behalf of UNMIS, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General [Political] for Sudan and acting Head of Mission, Jasbir Singh Lidder, commended the Political Parties Affairs Council (PPAC) for its efforts in making this workshop a reality and expressed his appreciation to the National Elections Commission (NEC) for its contributions to the program.

Mr. Jasbir Lidder stressed that the forthcoming elections mark a key benchmark in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and their peaceful realisation is likely manifest in a positive democratic transformation of Sudan.

In this regard, he added that while for organizing and conducting these elections rests with the NEC, its overall success is dependent on the synergised effort of the political parties, international community and United Nations. It, therefore, follows that all stakeholders work together, to develop a meaningful partnership and ensure their success. "We need to credibly demonstrate that there is a commitment to hold fair and free elections and ensure that these elections are an expression of the democratic will of the Sudanese people", he concluded.

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