SRSG Kubiš meets new IHEC Board of Commissioners, calls for concerted efforts to deliver a timely and successful election

The Commissioners provided updates on the status of electoral preparations, including plans for the enfranchisement of displaced voters and the adoption of several technologies for the next elections. The Commission also identified technical and other areas where they most require international support.



For his part, the SRSG welcomed the progress being made so far for the elections envisioned for 12 May 2018 in accordance with the timelines set in the Constitution of Iraq. “The 2018 Council of Representatives elections must take place in full conformity with the constitutional time-frame and it is imperative that the Electoral Commission works with all stakeholders in order to hold them as well as the Governorate Council Elections in a timely, inclusive, credible and transparent manner,” Mr. Kubiš emphasized.



The SRSG reiterated his call for the Council of Representatives to take immediate steps to ensure that the appropriate legal framework is in place, without further delay. “The Commission should be enabled to undertake all the required preparations all over the country. It is also important that the close cooperation and coordination between electoral institutions in Baghdad and in Kurdistan Region be sustained,” Mr. Kubiš further added.



Also at the meeting, which took place at IHEC offices in Baghdad, the SRSG reiterated the continuing commitment of the United Nations to provide an even more intensified support to Iraq’s forthcoming electoral processes. He mentioned the recent deployment of an Electoral Needs Assessment Mission by UN Headquarters to assess and define areas for further UN electoral support.