REAL PROGRESS MADE IN IVORIANELECTION PROCESS UN PEACEKEEPING OFFICIALGenuineprogress

REAL PROGRESS MADE IN IVORIANELECTION PROCESS UN PEACEKEEPING OFFICIALGenuineprogress has been made in identifying the population andregistering voters for the long-delayed elections in CotedIvoire, a key element in resolving a political crisisthat in 2002 divided the West African country into arebel-held north and Government-controlled south, a topUnited Nations official said today.Wrapping up a visit tothe country, Edmund Mulet, the Assistant Secretary-Generalfor Peacekeeping Operations, also listed among the signs oftangible progress the disappearance Rosetta Stone software of the so-called zone ofconfidence separating north and south.He noted inaddition that the two former warring forces are now workingtogether on security issues along with the UN peacekeepingmission in the country (UNOCI) and French Licorne forces,according to a UN spokesperson. Even so, much remainsto be done, the spokesperson added, saying that Mr. Muletrequested donors to continue to provide support to the peaceprocess and to streamline their efforts in the maintenanceof peace in Cote dIvoire.UNOCI is helping to pave theway for the polls, which were scheduled for 30 November buthave been delayed for the third time.Elections are one ofthe key benchmarks of last years Ouagadougou Agreement,the political accord reached in neighbouring Burkina Fasothat aims to reconcile CxF4,te dIvoires Government andthe rebel Forces Nouvelles. HAITIANS CONTINUEDESPERATE STRUGGLE THREE MONTHS AFTER SUCCESSIVE STORMS x2013,UN REPORTAlmost half of the families uprooted by what theUnited Nations emergency relief chief had called the worst disaster in the last 100 years to strike Haitiare still unable to return to their homes, a UN spokespersontold reporters today.Haiti remains in desperate need ofsupport three months after four back-to-back tropical stormsFay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike battered the country,killing nearly 800 people and affecting an estimated 1million people.In GonaxEF,ves alone one of the worsthit areas in the impoverished Caribbean nation over2,000 families are still living in temporary or collectiveshelters, which include tents. Those living in the makeshiftaccommodations continue to receive assistance, includingsome 5,000 kits which enable families to build transitionalshelter.But until now, only 48 per cent of the $105million flash appeal launched in September, aimed atassisting the emergency relief effort, has been pledged,according to a situation report published by the UN Officefor the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).TheUN also reported that a joint humanitarian fact-findingmission is in the western region of Cazale, where conditionsare said to be dismal. BAN TO HOST MEETING OFDIPLOMATIC QUARTET ON ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN PEACE NEXTWEEKSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon will host a meeting inNew York on Monday of his top diplomatic partners engaged inthe search for a solution to the Middle East conflict basedon the principle Rosetta Stone Italian of two States, Israel and Palestine, livingside by side in peace.United States Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,and European Union (EU) High Representative Javier Solanaand European Commissioner for External Relations BettinaFerrero-Waldner will join Mr. Ban at UN Headquarters, whileFrench Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner representing the EUPresidency and Quartet envoy Tony Blair are scheduled toparticipate by video-link.The Quartet UN, EU, Russiaand US has been trying to help the parties attain thetwo-State peace settlement for several years. The processreceived new impetus from a meeting of the principal actorslast year in the US city of Annapolis, with the projectedaim of achieving an agreement by the end of this year.Mr.Ban has voiced regret that this goal no longer seemspossible but has said he is encouraged by the fact that thetwo sides have succeeded in creating trust and a frameworkfor negotiations where none had existed two years ago.Ina message yesterday to the UN Latin American and CaribbeanMeeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian peace, held in theChilean capital, Santiago, Mr. Ban said the internationalcommunity recognizes the urgent need to continue supportingthe parties in their efforts to reach a comprehensiveagreement on all permanent status issues. The goal ofsuch an agreement is clear: an end to the occupation thatbegan in 1967, and the establishment of a Palestinian Stateliving side by side in peace and security with Israel, the message added.Meanwhile, 54 truckloads of goods,including 11 containing humanitarian supplies, were allowedinto Gaza from Israel today, but the fuel pipelines remainedclosed, the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for theMiddle East Peace Process (UNSCO) reported.UN officials,including Rosetta Stone Japanese Mr. Ban, have repeatedly called on Israel tourgently permit the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gazas1.5 million civilians. At the same time, Mr. Ban hasreiterated his condemnation of rocket attacks by Palestinianmilitants in Gaza against Israeli civilian targets, whichIsrael has cited as a reason for the closures.