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IMIE Chair welcomes report of expert assessment team on Iraqi elections

January 19, 2006, Ottawa – The International Mission for Iraqi Elections (IMIE) released today the report of its expert assessment team, which has been monitoring the post-election process in Iraq since early January. The report, which is available on the IMIE Web site (www.imie.ca), was welcomed by Jean-Pierre Kingsley, Chair of the IMIE Steering Committee and Chief Electoral Officer of Canada.

“I wish to thank the members of the assessment team for their dedication and commitment,” said Mr. Kingsley. “I would also express my appreciation to the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) for its co-operation and openness, and I am pleased that so many political entities and representatives of Iraqi civil society were willing to meet with the assessment team and share their views.”

Mr. Kingsley also thanked Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Mr. Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, for supporting the establishment of the assessment team. The team included two high-level representatives of the League of Arab States, as well as experts from Europe and North America.

The report, which has been provided to the IECI and to the Iraqi government, will inform the IMIE Steering Committee’s overall assessment of the December 15, 2005, Iraqi elections. That report will be issued in the coming weeks and will be available on the IMIE Web site.

For further information, please contact Mr. Fadi Hammoud, Media/Communication Director at (962) 79-644-4738 or via email at fadi.hammoud@elections.ca.