Haniyeh Blesses The Update Of The Electoral Register In Gaza

Haniyeh Blesses The Update Of The Electoral Register In Gaza

29/05/2012

GAZA, (PIC)-- Gaza's government agreed on Monday, during the meeting held between PM Ismail Haniyeh and the Central Elections Committee, to allow the Committee to start working immediately to prepare for a vote in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Awad said, at a news conference after the meeting, that Haniyeh “gave instructions to facilitate the work of the CEC,” and that there will be constant coordination between Gaza's government and the West Bank commission.

In addition, he stressed that Gaza gave the green light to CEC to begin updating voter lists without delay.

Haniya's deputy also said he hoped that the commission's work would prove to the people that the stalled unity deal was really starting to be implemented and that "this will be the foundation for ending Palestinian division."

Speaking at the same news conference, Hanna Nasser, the CEC head in the West Bank, asserted that the committee’s work was blessed by the PM during the meeting. He noted that voter registration would take six weeks and that Abbas would then decide on a date for presidential and parliamentary elections.

Nasser revealed the committee's work will start in the next few days in Gaza and that: "I hope there will be no obstacles, so that we can begin the process of ending the division."

He stressed that the Committee's role is technical and that any other issues outside the elections' framework are political steps that the CEC is not responsible for.

For his part, Hamas official Ismail Ashqar described the meeting that was held between Hamas and CEC in Gaza as positive

He said in a statement that during the meeting Hamas movement asked all questions related to the formation of the technical staff and the updating of the voter list and stated that Hamas will name its representatives before the CEC for coordination.

Ashkar expressed his hope that the Central Committee will fulfill their tasks to the fullest, with integrity and transparency.

ENDS

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