SRSG Ad Melkert Visits the IHEC
By Randa Jamal
On 3 October 2009, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq Ad Melkert visited the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), based in Baghdad, to view the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming national elections. He was received by the Chairman of the IHEC Board of Commissioners Faraj Al-Haydari and by UNAMI International Technical Electoral Advisor and Head of the Electoral Team Ms. Sandra Mitchell. The officials walked Mr. Melkert through the IHEC various units, including the design, data and audit centers.
In touring the Graphic Design section, Mrs. Hamdiya Al-Hussaini, IHEC Chief Electoral Officer showed Mr. Melkert the various samples of ballots designed by the specialized election commission team, including the forms that will be used depending on whether the Election Law will opt for an open or a closed list. She also pointed out to a poster entitled, "My Voice is my Future", with women and men representing Iraq's multi-ethnic diversity. Illustrating how hard the IHEC team has been working, Al Hussaini explained to Melkert that the IHEC had produced enough material to suffice for the next election campaigns in Iraq. She also emphasized the independence of the commission and its need for support from the international community and the UN.
In response, Mr. Melkert said, "You could be assured that the UN will continue providing assistance to the IHEC and to the Iraqi people", while stressing the importance for the elections to take place in January of 2010, and thus for the Council of Representatives (CoR) to approve the law to move ahead with the preparations. Acknowledging that there has been a lot of questions and criticisms of the IHEC, the SRSG emphasized that this is part of democracy and all parliamentarians should come together to give Iraq such an opportunity.
Following the tour of IHEC offices, a joint press conference was held by IHEC Chairman and the SRSG. In his statement, Mr. Melkert said, "It is important for the UN to meet the High Commissioner and the staff working here, to review the entire operation. The UN is very proud to help the IHEC and the people of Iraq".
In relation to the Election Law, the SRSG said, "I trust that the CoR will pass it as soon as possible", adding that the discussions currently taking place are only normal in any parliament in a democracy. He also commented about the thousands of Iraqi civil servants who have been working around the clock to prepare for these elections, saying "We look forward to the elections that will be held in January 2010".
To a question on the potential UN effort in coordinating international observers to monitor the elections, Mr. Melkert responded that the UN is willing to assist with such an endeavor upon an official request from the IHEC. And on possible external interference in the electoral process, the SRSG emphasized that "Elections are a prerogative of the Iraqi people alone; anything else should be support and not interference".
The Board of Commissioners Chairman Faraj Al -Haydari for his part, called on the CoR to "Approve the law by 15 October 2009, so we could move ahead with the preparations as we only have 100 days left". He also thanked the UN electoral team working with the IHEC, for their expertise in building systems and capacities.
Head of the UN Electoral Team Sandra Mitchell, said that "Today, the SRSG was able to see first hand the election commission completing the update of the final register and the preparation of ballot design for the January election. Now all the election commission needs is clarity on the law from the CoR".
