Secretary-General Applauds Tunisia’s Elections as ‘Crucial Step’, ‘Decisive Milestone’ in Transition to Democracy

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General congratulates the Tunisian people on the occasion of the country’s legislative elections on 26 October.  As the Secretary-General noted during his recent visit to Tunisia, these elections are a crucial step for the country's future and mark a decisive milestone in the transition to democracy.  Just as this moment comes with a great deal of hope, there remain crucial tasks ahead for the next Government.  He reiterates that the United Nations stands ready to support Tunisia in this respect.

The Secretary-General also congratulates the Tunisian electoral authorities for their efforts in organizing the polling and their continued work on the presidential elections next month.