23 June 2007 Dili – The ballot papers for the parliamentary election on 30 June arrived in Dili today from their printing location in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The chartered flight carrying the papers was met by officials from the Government, the National Electoral Commission (CNE), the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), and the United Nations.

"The cooperation between Indonesia and Timor-Leste in the printing of the ballots shows the level of relations between the two countries that has been nurtured over the years by the leaders of each nation," said Atul Khare, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste.

The deputy head of UNMIT responsible for electoral assistance, Finn Reske-Nielsen welcomed the arrival of the ballots and said UNMIT and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) assisted in the printing of the ballot papers following a request from the Government of Timor-Leste.

"After conducting a tender process and evaluating the different bids on criteria including cost, production time, and quality, a company was chosen in Surabaya.

The Indonesian authorities facilitated every step of the process and provided the necessary security measures in Surabaya. Before the ballots left the printing location, they were pre-packed by STAE and UNMIT officials in boxes for distribution to the districts," Mr Reske-Nielsen said.

The specifications for the ballot papers are more complex than those for the ballots used in the presidential elections. In addition to the names and symbols of the parties and coalitions competing in the election, the ballots are each required to have a serial number on a perforated stub. The quantity and distribution of the ballots can therefore carefully be monitored and controlled.

Production started late last week, overseen by a joint delegation with officials from STAE, CNE, UNDP and UNMIT. Representatives from the STAE and CNE then accompanied the boxes back to Dili today.

The ballots and boxes will be secured in Dili at the STAE Headquarters and delivery to the districts begins on Tuesday with distributing to the polling centres on Friday.

The Acting Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo , the Head of CNE Faustino Cardoso, Director of STAE Tomas Cabral, the Head of the UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) Atul Khare, and the Acting Minister for State Administration, Valentin Ximenes, were all present at Dili airport to greet the arrival of the flight.

For further information please contact UNMIT spokesperson Allison Cooper on +670 7230453