October 4, 2004

Shillong, October 04, 2004 : The Union Minister for Environment and Forest, Shri. A. Raja will visit the State capital, Shillong during October 8 & 9, 2004 for his Review Meeting with the Forest Ministers of the North Eastern States. The meeting will be held at the Hotel Pine Wood, Shillong on October 8, 2004 at 1400 hrs.

This was informed by the Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Forest & Environment Department.

Shillong, October 04, 2004 : A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed recently between the Election Commission (EC) of India and the Commission Electorale Independante of Cote D’Ivoire (CEICD). The MoU was signed was signed by Dr. Noor Mohammad, Deputy Election Commissioner on behalf of the EC of India and Mr. Camille Hoguie, President CEICD.

As per the Memorandum, the two parties have agreed to promote cooperation on mutually agreed terms and conditions in their mutually identified priority areas in the field of electoral management and administration, including promotion of initiatives designed to strengthen electoral systems and democratic institutions, promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in the field of organizational and technical development, strengthening the management and administration of electoral processes, exchanging information, material, expertise and organising training of personnel, production and dissemination of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters’ education and awareness, participating of weaker sections including women, enhancing participation in electoral process or related areas, facilitating relationships with other electoral authorities and organisations, providing assistance to other electoral authorities in the organisation and conduct of electoral processes on demand and other modality of cooperation mutually agreed by the parties.

With a view to maintaining an appropriate mechanism for implementation of and follow-up to this Memorandum, the two parties have also agreed to conduct periodic consultations for the purpose of identifying and evaluating priority areas for carrying out specific organizational and technical cooperation activities, recommending and preparing instruments designed to identify activities, programmes and projects to be executed as well as assessing their implementation and overseeing proper observance of and compliance with this Memorandum.