§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK observers were present to monitor the recent local elections in Cote d'Ivoire, including the campaign and polling day; and if he will make a statement. [69666]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe UK did not send any observers to cover the Côte d'Ivoire district elections, nor did the European Union. However, members of our embassy visited polling stations in several areas of Abidjan and reported no serious incidents on polling day.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Côte d'Ivoire on the failure to distribute identity cards in time for the local elections on 7 July; and if he will make a statement. [69665]
§ Mr. MacShaneEU and other western diplomatic missions in Côte d'Ivoire, including our own, were in regular touch with the Ivorian Government and Independent Electoral Commission in the run-up to the elections. They made clear, among other things, the need to ensure that arrangements for voter identification were as comprehensive as possible. The Interior Minister gave an assurance that the distribution of identity cards would continue up to and including polling day itself.