- Title: OMAN: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges free and fair elections in Tunisia
- Date: 20th January 2011
- Summary: MUSCAT, OMAN (JANUARY 19, 2011) (REUTERS) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON AT INTERVIEW FLOWER DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "I have closely been following situation in Tunisia with great concern. Now that the transitional government is formed, I sincerely hope that the new government will listen more attentively to the wishes of the people addressing many concerns raised in the course of this transition. First of all, providing decent jobs for youths, addressing their wishes to have more freedom of speech, freedom of association." BAN KI-MOON'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "Most important thing is that this election should be conducted in a fair, objective and transparent and credible manner. The preparatory process may not be much important, the most important thing is how they can ensure this election in a credible way reflecting the genuine and true will of Tunisian people." FLOWER DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "It is very important for the countries in the region or elsewhere, particularly they have good dialogue, a channel of dialogue between the leadership and the people should always be free and open and the freedom of expression, the freedom of association, should always be insured by the government authorities." VARIOUS OF BAN KI-MOON LEAVING INTERVIEW
- Embargoed: 4th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Oman, Oman
- Country: Oman
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVACRJEC7KLXCBNRWYBUGEGSLWZ3
- Story Text: Tunisia's interim government, formed after a popular upheaval unseated the president, must listen better to its people and provide jobs for the young, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday (January 19).
Ban said the United Nations would provide technical support for a presidential election expected to be held to replace ousted strongman Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. And he pledged to work closely with Tunisia to help, but said he had not yet decided whether to visit the North African state.
"I have closely been following situation in Tunisia with great concern. Now that the transitional government is formed, I sincerely hope that the new government will listen more attentively to the wishes of the people addressing many concerns raised in the course of this transition. First of all, providing decent jobs for youth, addressing their wishes to have more freedom of speech, freedom of association," he told Reuters in an interview in Muscat, the capital of the Gulf state of Oman.
Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on Friday (January 14) after weeks of street unrest. That has prompted the formation of a national unity cabinet under Ben Ali's prime minister to lead a transition.
Ban said he was "optimistic" about that process.
"Most important thing is that this election should be conducted in a fair, objective and transparent and credible manner. The preparatory process may not be much important, the most important thing is how they can ensure this election in a credible way reflecting the genuine and true will of Tunisian people."
The overthrow of Ben Ali after protests about poverty and unemployment sent shockwaves through the Arab world, where many leaders preside over similarly repressive governments.
"It is very important for the countries in the region or elsewhere, particularly they have good dialogue, a channel of dialogue between the leadership and the people should always free and open and the freedom of expression, the freedom of association, should always be insured by the government authorities," Ban said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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