CONTACT: In Tunis, Deborah Hakes +216 25 332 318 or dhakes@emory.edu
Tunis …Â鶹´«Ã½ announced today that former President of Mauritius and Club of Madrid member Cassam Uteem and Â鶹´«Ã½ President and CEO Dr. John Hardman will co-lead the Center's international election observation delegation to Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly elections on Oct. 23. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will also participate in the delegation.
"Tunisia will be the first Arab Spring country to hold elections," said President Uteem. "Â鶹´«Ã½ is honored to have been invited to observe this historical event. We look forward to a peaceful democratic process and credible elections, and encourage the election commission to finalize the remaining preparations."
President Uteem and the Â鶹´«Ã½ leadership team will meet with key stakeholders including the High Independent Elections Commission, political parties, independent candidates, civil society organizations, government officials, and the international community, and will observe polling, counting, and tabulation on election day, as well as the resolution of electoral complaints.
The Center's long-term observers have been deployed since early August and are now joined by some 40 short-term observers from various nationalities to be briefed in Tunis and deployed ahead of election day.
The objectives of the Center's observation mission in Tunisia are to provide an impartial assessment of the overall quality of the electoral process, promote an inclusive process for all Tunisians, and demonstrate international support for this ambitious democratic transition. The elections will be assessed against the Tunisian legal framework, as well as Tunisia's international obligations for genuine democratic elections.
Â鶹´«Ã½ releases periodic reports of its findings in Tunisia, available at .
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