Welcoming Peaceful Completion of First Round Voting in Côte d’Ivoire, Secretary-General Urges Stakeholders to Avoid Incendiary Statements

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

The Secretary-General welcomes the successful completion of voting in the first round of presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire on 25 October.  He congratulates the Ivorian people and leadership for the peaceful environment in which the elections were held.

As Côte d’Ivoire awaits the final results, the Secretary-General encourages all political leaders and national stakeholders to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed on election day and to refrain from any statements that may lead to violence or unrest.

The Secretary-General reiterates his call on national stakeholders to resolve peacefully any disputes that may arise through established legal procedures.