UN Electoral Team Starts Work in Lebanon

UN ELECTORAL TEAM STARTS WORK IN LEBANON FOR 29 MAY VOTE

New York, May 9 2005 2:00PM

With the United Nations having aided countries with 200 elections worldwide, its electoral team started its assignment in Lebanon today by holding meetings with high-level officials on deploying international observers for parliamentary elections to take place late this month.

The Director of the UN's Electoral Assistance Division, Carina Perelli, met Acting Foreign Minister Elias Murr and Interior Minister Hassan al-Sabaa and discussed not only the preparations for deployment, but also the possibility of providing other technical help for the 29 May elections.

The expertise of the UN was at the disposition of the Lebanese authorities, said Ms. Perelli, who is scheduled to remain in the country until 18 May, meeting people active in Lebanese politics and civil society, as well as representatives of international organizations.

The UN will not observe the elections itself, but will field a team during the balloting to coordinate and support international observers sent by other countries and organizations.

ENDS

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