Annan concerned over stalemate of electoral process in Togo

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has voiced his concern over the stalemate of the electoral process in Togo and the breakdown of the political consensus in the country.

A spokesperson for the Secretary-General said today that Mr. Annan had conveyed his concern during a meeting on Monday with the Foreign Minister of Togo, Koffi Panou.

“In the view of the Secretary-General, the unilateral amendment by the Government of the Electoral Code is not conducive to the creation of favourable conditions for the holding of the elections,” spokesperson Marie Okabe told a press briefing, quoting a statement released late on Tuesday.

Recalling that a technical evaluation mission that visited Togo last year had “certainly not recommended the amendment of the Constitution or of the Electoral Code,” the Secretary-General asked all parties concerned to avoid any misinterpretation of the mission’s report, according to the statement.

“The Secretary-General remains ready, in cooperation with all parties working to resolve the Togolese crisis, to seek ways and means conducive to the return of the political consensus and to the holding of the legislative elections in a climate of peace and security,” said Ms. Okabe .

“The Secretary-General also calls on all the Togolese parties to refrain from any action likely to disturb the social peace and remains convinced that the solution to the present deadlock lies in a return to the consensus of the Lomé Framework Agreement,” she said.