8 January 2014 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau today said he was "very impressed with the commitment of the authorities and the population to the voter registration process," in the aftermath of a two-day visit in the region of Cacheu.

José Ramos-Horta conducted from Tuesday to Wednesday a working visit and monitoring of socio-political situation in Cacheu, with emphasis on the ongoing voter registration process.

He was accompanied by a team of the United Nations Integrated Peace-building Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) officials, including the Chiefs of Rule of Law and Security Institutions Section (ROLSI), Human Rights (HR) and a representation of São Domingos (North) office - and Public Information (PIU).

On Tuesday, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate left early morning from Bissau towards Bula, to meet with the Governor of the sector, Fernando Abna, and the Administrator, Armando Sanca, as well as with civil, military and police authorities.

The first observation of the electoral voter registration was taken directly by José Ramos-Horta in the village Pitch Yalá, followed by Dimpili , Cadji Jessa (Celequisse ) and Cabi, which he visited in the evening.

At the end of his visit, SRSG said: “I am very impressed with the commitment of provincial and local authorities, and also with the support of the population, much interested in the registration process for upcoming general elections and also because, for the first time in their lives, they will have a citizen identity card. Thus, the enthusiasm of the population is entirely understandable...

"On the other hand, I am equally impressed given the relative speed with which the headquarters in Bissau has responded to the difficulties, though not always in time, because it's almost impossible.

"So we have to understand the ups and downs, failures, mishaps, and I congratulate the national and provincial authorities: only those who, like me, go almost every day to GTAPE’s Office and also to the ground, across the country, can understand the efforts and setbacks.

“We will not give up, we will continue to be where there is a need of encouragement and give moral support, trying to solve problems that arise, as it has happened in partnership with the Prime Minister, Rui Barros”, he concluded.