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3/11/2010)
Ad Melkert said, “The world is impressed with the professional way the Parliamentary elections were run.”
Opening Remarks and Welcome: Chairman Faraj Alhaidery
“I am grateful for all the efforts that were made to make this election a success.”
Mr. Melkert talking points:
· Thanked Mr. Alhaidery and all the BOC members.
· Work still in progress
· Must complete counting and sorting.
· Thanked the staff in the Data entry center (DEC)
· Observers conclude election fair and honest.
· Process is complicated and will take several more days.
· Only IHEC has authority to announce results which they will publish.
He concluded by saying, “It is important that we all accept the results...I am calling for mutual respect which is at the heart of an election. The world is impressed with the professional manner in which this election was run.”
Faraj Alhaidery added, “Most Political Entities and the international community representatives praised the integrity of the electoral process. No doubt there will be criticism and doubts, but this is natural. It does not reflect on the overall conduct of IHEC. It means the source of information is wrong. We are confident in the work of IHEC and we hope that in future elections, these kind of criticisms will disappear.”
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3/11/2010)
IHEC had invited representatives from the IEMI team to observe the parliamentary Iraqi elections. After the observations, IEMI issued a press statement complimenting IHEC’s efforts on its logistical preparations and technical efforts.
The IEMI team consisted of 6 representatives from Sweden, UK, Canada, and United States. They received special training in how to observe elections.
Doug Roland, head of the delegation and former member of the Canadian parliament, said, “we think that IHEC has shown outstanding commitment to safety at the polling station and to its technical support.”
The team visited over 20 polling center during voting, including special voting centers. The team canvassed Iraqi citizen and representatives from the European community for their opinions on the elections.
The team will issue a final report next week.
The 6 person observer consisted of the following: Pierre Garton from Sweden, Antony Simpsons form UK, (both are ex-members of the European Parliament ), Paul Doveeah (Canada) , Jim Saltray (US), and the head of team and Chairman Emeritus for international election observers institute Douglas Roland (Canada).
Roland was chief of the team January 2006 and analyzed the 2005 operation elections.
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3/10/2010)
Deputy speaker of the French Parliament & the International observer of the 2010 Iraqi Parliamentary Elections Mr. Moirés liroa, confirmed "the democracy experiment in Iraq succeeded completely and gave a clear message to all the world that Iraqi people convinced totally about protecting their new experiment". He pointed out also that there is many evidences proved the integrity of the ongoing elections in Iraq since no one can whether Iraqi or foreign expect the elections results , or who is the winner bulk, or the next prime minister and this what put the experiment in the heart of the democracy.
To that, Deputy speaker of the French Parliament added in a speech to Al-Mada Newspaper published on 10 March, that Paris has a real desire to consolidate the cooperation relations between the two countries and it is not an accident that among (250) European Union there are (25) French observers which represents % 20 of observers and reflects the importance of Democracy experiments in Iraq at France
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3/10/2010)
The observing team of integrity which belongs to Aman institute for human rights study issued its first report on the integrity of the electoral process held on 7th march 2010.
The report confirmed that the rates of checking the voter ID and the indelible ink on his finger was 99,5 % , the search for the voter name in the VL and his signature in the list 97% , the stamp of the ballots 99,9% , the fowled procedures to maintain the secrecy of polling 97 % , nobody can vote on behalf of another one in the station 2% , the voters who needed assistance according to the regulations of IHEC 97% , the rate of closing the PCs at five PM 99% and the start of counting and sorting directly after the close of the PCs 98% .
The mentioned numbers issued by the Jordanian monitoring team accordingly represent the integrityand transparency of the polling and they met the international electoral standards.
To view this report click here
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3/10/2010)
The UN Security Council issued a statement about the parliamentary election in Iraq expressing its belief that Iraqis fulfilled their obligation to complete the democratic process and that an important step was taken to reinforce national unity, sovereignty, and the independence of Iraq.
The Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary -General (SRSG) in Iraq (Ad Melkert ) declared on Monday that when the results are announced, “We ask all candidates and parties to unify in accepting them. Democracy requires the commitment of all concerned parties. “
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3/9/2010)
Report on the Voter Turnout
Welcome speech: Chairman Deputy Mrs.Amel Biraqdar
Mrs. Hamdia Alhussieny, the IHEC CEO declared that initial rates of participation in general voting were 62,40%
Here is the breakdown per governorate:
80% in Dahuk,
76% Erbil
73% Sulymaina.
66% Nanva
73% Kirkuk,
62% Dayla
61% Anbar,
53%Baghdad,
63%Babylon,
60% Wassit,
73%Salahdeen,
61% Najaf
62% Qadissia ,
61%Muthnana,
60%Dhayqar,
50% Missan,
57% Basrah”
She pointed out that IHEC will declared preliminary results after they finished tabulating 30% of total ballots.
Mrs. Hamedia Alhussieny requested that all local & international observers, media and PE representatives come to the tally center to oversee the process. .
Regarding the participation rate in the 16 countries where voting in this election took place, Mr. Saad Al Rawi said “ we would like to point out that IHEC didn’t have Out of Country special voter list. We were working according to estimated numbers before elections so we don’t have voting percentage. We have voters numbers. They are 272,016 in all countries.
Breakdown:
Syria 42,965
Sweden 36,931
United states 27,754
Jordan 24,717
Iran 23,554,
Germany19,474
UK 17,837
UAE 16,036
Canada 12,428,
Netherlands 12,300
Australia 12,086
Denmark 9,328
Turkey 6,305
Egypt 4,000
Lebanon 3,787
Austria 1,579
He ended his speech by saying, “We would like to ask all Political Entity Agents to obtain this mechanism in work order to be familiar with IHEC work in seats allocation and results: You have 48 hours to file a complaint from the time that the violation occurred. Complaints are filed with the governorate office or IHEC office in Baghdad.”
There have been 183 complaints at this point from Out of Country voters.
Mr.Sardar Abud Kreem stated that in the data entry center, they received the ballot boxes at midnight. The ballot boxs were transferred from polling centers to warehouse and today were transferred to IHEC headquarters accompanied by security forces.
He add “there are more then one thousand people working in the data entry center. They were trained to work on an information program made specially for this purpose and this program was been audited by a specialized international company. The special program was made to show the data entry center work and all Political Entities (PEs) are invited to be informed about how thedata entry center works , how results program works and the seats allocation.”
He urged all PEs to give their attention to following up at the data entry center. He emphasized on setting Mechanism to show preliminary results during entering process between once in while results will show up for each governorate and for each PE on screen set for this purpose, PEs representatives had the right to record these results so IHEC add more transparency on work .
Mrs.Biraqdar talked about submitting complaints mechanism “still enough time to submit complaints in 48 hours since time of violation, for whom wants they can submit to governorate office or IHEC office in Baghdad”
Special Voting Complaints
Special voting compliant received till now 381. The number of complaints from out of country offices reached 159.
Regarding the general voting complaint, IHEC is still receiving them and registering them and some of them have started their investigation and will give preliminary answer regarding complaint which will effect on election results ,till now any complaint about counting and sorting process not received, IHEC will not neglect any complaint .”
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3/9/2010)
To accomplish its tasks and to continue with the media in steps that add more in transparency, the BOC has held a press conference in the midnight on 7th march 2010 with the attendance of the SRSG of UN in Iraq Add Milacirt
The chairman of the BOC declared this statement
Our kind presents
The peace of god shall be upon you
In this great day which have been waited form all Iraqis to register in the modern history the great and biggest experience of the million's march towards the ballot boxes .they held with their violet fingers all the Iraqi hopes and the desires to build new multi democratic Iraq with all the creative powers that will draw its effects in the coming Iraqi COR.
After the end of this day with the help of God, the process of polling has accomplished and it witnessed the big march people despite the endeavors of the terrorists, criminals and weak people to use destructive and voice bombs to frighten the citizens and block this great march of people which intended to participate and to show a great message to the world that the Iraqi people is a live people. The people decided to walk in the path of democracy and the building of institutes throughout the free and transparent elections.
On this great occasion, the IHEC would like to congratulate the Iraqi people generally and the Iraqi voter especially who went to the PCs early to say his great word and to elect Iraq. IHEC also would like to congratulate the PEs which participates in the electoral process and the candidates for their role in this field and to endure the responsibility. Accordingly their existence in the electoral race will promote the Iraqi peole position who took a firmed step and around the world and let the people and countries look to it in a respective way. The PES and candidates after they took part in the elections must accept the results and to focus on the interest of Iraq first. It should have a clear electoral education thereby blessing the winners, respecting the results and not to suspect the great deed of IHEC as the executive party when all people will admit its effort. The staffs of the IHEC have been able to implement the regulations, laws and procedures for successful electoral process. Here we want to refer that there are too many members of international and local observers, the agents of the PEs and the media which enhance the integrity and transparency of elections.
The responsibility of results will be limited on the IHEC because it is the only technical party which depends on the mechanisms of counting, sorting and registering the results then it will audit the results to issue the right results. The IHEC like to call all the PEs and Iraqis to wait for the results to be issued by the official party. This will take long time to enable IHEC to conduct its work in a proper way and whatever the results are coming from different sides which announce the winning of specific party or a participated candidate will only be regarded as estimations. There are no numbers or real results and the real results will be only issued by the IHEC.
In this great day, we are blessing the Iraqis, the PEs, the candidates and ourselves for the big historical event .certainly the results will promote the new phase on the building of the democracy and peaceful transferring of power. The history will write and register in gold letters this event in order to be a tower for all free people and a clear path to anyone who looking for the democratic and everlasting deed as well as the foundation of the new government that respect the people and free expression .
I would like to express on behalf of the BOC the great thanks to all people who participate to success this day and specially the IEAT, the international experts, the CSOs which concern on the electoral process, the local &international observers, the high security committee of elections and all faithful Iraqi people.
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3/9/2010)
The BOC of the IHEC confirmed in a press conference held by IHEC on sandy night , 7th of march 2010 in Al rasheed hotel and it was opened by the member of the BOC Mr. Qasim Alabody, the spokesman of the IHEC who welcomed the attendants.
Hereunder the IHEC statement which delivered by Alhaidery to the Iraqi people on the success of the electoral process and he refused any suspicion on the integrity and transparency of the efforts made by the staff of IHEC. He expressed his disappointment on the attack which came from on of the main politician against the IHEC who give a previous stab to the results of the elections .Alhaidery the chairman of the BOC has called for respecting the legal procedures during the objection of the results.
He also asked in his speech all the political entities to wait for the declaration of the results and to respect the results of the elections. He made it clear that the IHEC shall announce the results of the general polling today at the end of this week and he expressed the rejection of IHEC to any results published by the media right now.
From his part, the SRSG of UN, chairman of (UNAMI) Mr. Add Milacrit congratulated the Iraqi people on the success of the elections and the active participation despite the terrorist attack which he described as cowardice acts.
Mr. Milacrit called for all the PEs to submit their objections since the law authorized them to do that and he referred that the results might be declared at the end of the current week.
Mr. Qassim Alabody said that the IHEC will deal with complains over the irregularities on the special polling day and he emphasized that the people behind these irregularities will get punished. On the same hand, the spokesman of IHEC Mr. Qassim Alabody said during the conference that the IHEC shall deal with the complains on the failures on the special polling day. He stressed on the necessity of punishing the persons who did these failures and he notified that some of them said the special PSs will close at five or six PM which is right and it is not a break because the guidelines stipulate that the centers which have a queue in front of the center will be extended until the end of the queue.
He added that some people mentioned the issue of military men who came with to the centre with their weapons which is against the guidelines and he affirmed that IHEC shall take all the required procedures if any complain have received.
Mrs. Hamedia Alhussieny / the CEO of the IHEC said the procedures of IHEC were right and it held in cooperation with the security committee the biggest electoral process in the region. She said that the last explosions in Baghdad and Mosul early in the morning have closed 4 PCs in Mosul but they reopened later.
Mrs. Hamedia pointed out that 600, 000 voters out of the total number of eligible voters in this polling have voted in their departments. The rate of Iraqi voters in the special voting reached 60% around the country.
The highest rate of voters was in Erbil / the center of the Kurdistan region northern Iraq which reached 87% while the lowest rate was in Baghdad / Algharh (the west part of Baghdad) which reached 42% Mrs. Alhussieny added.
She mentioned that the number of registered complains to IHEC that submitted from the PEs have reached 162 and most of these complains came from Sulaimanya governorate which reached 121 complains.
The member of the BOC, Mr. Ayad Alkanany emphasized that the IHEC will not count the voters of the out side elections because there are different times for the opening of the PSs in the 16th countries of out side elections. He pointed out that Australia was the first country to open the PSs for Iraqis and the last two countries were USA and Canada consecutively.
The Alkanany also mentioned that 191 international observers have attended elections including 60 observers from the Arab league, 428 local observers and 5227 PE's observers.
He pointed out that the observers were moving around the PCs to monitor the electoral process.
He added that many obstacles have encountered the out side elections at the first day of the determined three days of elections such as: one of the main problems was that some voters have not identification cards which call for IHEC to prevent them to vote in comply with the international standards .
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3/9/2010)
Mr. Faraj al Haidary a chairman of BOC/IHEC has met Mr. Lorwar a member of French National Assembly, Rashida Dathy a member of European parliament, the previous Minister of justice and accompanying delegates with them, Mr. Faraj al Haidary praise the French delegates and international monitors for efforts to support the IHEC and asking everyone to be neutral and to indicate the flaw points if any in the Democracy process.
Al Haidary answered about some of inquiries of Mr. Lourwar about local and international observers registration, he explained that IHEC has special committee to follow up affairs of the observers which matching their registration conditions with the IHEC conditions ,Al Haidary also answered another question about the time that IHEC need for declaring the result , He said
“The open list system that IHEC followed in voting in this election need long time, also we have out side of Iraq voting in 16 country, special voting and conditional voting, so we needs time that might to abbreviate when opining the data entry center which is a largest center in Middle East to enable the local and international observers and political entity to observe through out screens, so we hope to declares the result soon but can’t determine the exactly deadline”.
In a question about the mechanism of transport the tamper evident bags (TEB) from polling station to the IHEC, Al Haidary answered:
Polling station will closed at 5.00 p.m, 7 March, local and international observers will stay to complete the count and sort process and records the votes that political entities obtained, the result put in four copies in the (TEB) with serial number . One of copy stick in the same station and transports the other copies with Iraqi security and the observer have the right to observer it until receives to the head quarter. This transparency is not available in many global democracy experiments.
He added that if observer noticed any infractions, he can write report with his signature at the end of count process “
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3/9/2010)
IHEC has held press conference to inform the public opinion about the latest development of the electoral process and the initial result in Al Rashid hotel. In the presence of the official spokesman of IHEC Judge Qasim Al Abody , Ayad Al Knany BOC Member , Mr. Saas Al Rawi ,BOC Member and Mr. Kaream Al Tamimy ,BOC Member .Judge Qasim Al Abody confirmed that regular voting center has opened in the 7.00 am in spite of some security infractions and explosion that accrued which was controlled by security authorities.
Also Mr. Ayad Al Knany touch on the out side Iraq election which continued 3 day sequences and open additional stations out side Iraq reach to 51 stations , the initial outcome were 150 .000 voters , in addition to received the complaints that reached 177
In the same context Mr. Kaream Al Tamimy BOC member said that the numbers of the opened polling centers were reach more than 50.000 centers. Closed two of polling centers in Governorate of Ninawa because the bad security situation added that the numbers of employs in polling center reached 350.000