allAfrica.com: Côte d'Ivoire: American Embassy's National Daily Press Review (Page 1 of 1)

This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

A feature story in today's L'inter (a privately-owned daily) said that the American electoral system could be a model for Ivorians. The identification process ahead of the upcoming presidential elections; the relationship between the ruling FPI party and the New Forces; the national service program; efforts by the Ivorian authorities to stamp out racketeering; and the state of the media in Cote d'Ivoire are also subjects of front-page stories in the newspapers.

2. L'inter (a privately-owned daily): In an article entitled: "the American electoral system could serve as a model for Ivorians," the paper's political reporter, Felix Diby Bony, reported on what he called "the lessons of American primaries." Bony, who recently covered the Pennsylvania primaries as part of the Reporting Tour of the Foreign Press Center, referred to the primaries as "democracy at the grassroots," that enables the American people to choose their flagbearer for the November presidential elections. He said, "Despite its uniqueness in the world, the American democratic system could serve as a model for young democracies in Africa that are finding it difficult to overcome obstacles including violence." He suggested that the American electoral system offers "some recipes" that could help avoid conflicts that come up during elections. With regards to the upcoming elections in Cote d'Ivoire, Bony said, "It's important to note the positive aspects of the American democracy, which could help Ivorians to get rid of certain clichés and to progress towards the construction of a true nation on a strong foundation." The writer also saluted the American "power shift mechanism," which he said could contribute to avoid "useless conflicts in Africa." He said that in the United States, "there is no room for witch-hunting, which has been a source of conflicts in many African countries." In conclusion Bony commented that at the end of the two terms in office, "The Bush Administration will leave office without rancor against the new team that will replace them."

2. L'inter also reported on the issue of birth registrations in Cote d'Ivoire. According to the paper, Mr. Yua Koffi, Chairman of National Commission for Supervision and the Control of the Identification told a gathering that "The identification of the population must be conducted fairly." The paper said that the purpose of the gathering was to reinforce the capacity of all stakeholders involved in the general identification of the population ahead of the upcoming elections in Cote d'Ivoire.

3. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): Reporting on the same issue, a story in this paper said that the question of "how to secure the birth registers in Cote d'Ivoire" was the major issue that was raised at a two-day seminar that was organized by the National Commission for Supervision and the Control of the Identification process. According to the paper, the gathering focused on the reestablishment of the birth registers, and how to solve weaknesses of the Ivorian registration system.

Reporting on the same issue, a story in this paper said that the question of "how to secure the birth registers in Cote d'Ivoire" was the major issue that was raised at a two-day seminar that was organized by the National Commission for Supervision and the Control of the Identification process. According to the paper, the gathering focused on the reestablishment of the birth registers, and how to solve weaknesses of the Ivorian registration system.

3. In a separate story, Fraternite Matin reported that the New Forces denounced what they called "attacks" from the ruling FPI party. According to the paper, the former rebel movement sent a petition to the party to demand "clarification" after "the high-ranking personalities of the FPI party took delight in many verbal attacks targeted against Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro; the New Forces; and the peace process."

4. In another development, Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) devoted a full-page to the national service program, which it said, was designed by the Ivorian government as part of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement to reintegrate ex-combatants and members of the militias into the society. According to the paper, the program will include approximately, 40,000 people.

5. L'intelligent d'Abidjan (a privately-owned daily): On the meetings of security forces, economic operators and civic groups, yesterday in Abidjan, the paper reported that "major decisions" have been taken to stamp out racketeering and corruption in Cote d'Ivoire. According to the paper, the plan includes an awareness campaign to sensitize the population on the dangers of these phenomena. In a related development, Fraternite Matin reported that the leader of the Ivorian Workers Party, Francis Wodie, has proposed a blue-print designed to ensure "good governance in Cote d'Ivoire." "We need another political system. Not the one that enriches some and impoverishes others," Wodie was quoted as saying.

6. Reporting on the state of the media in Cote d'Ivoire, Le Patriote (a daily close to the RDR political party) quoted the Minister of Communication, Ibrahim Sy Savane, as saying that "Financial independence could allow newspapers to become free." According to the paper, Savane, who was speaking to UNOCI FM (a UN radio in Cote d'Ivoire), delivered a message to Ivorian journalists, especially the young ones, that they should "thoroughly check information before publishing it."

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