European Union (EU) delegation Chief Michel Arrion reaffirmed the EU support for the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire after a meeting with members of the country's Independent Electoral Committee (CEI) on Monday.

It is definitely possible for Cote d'Ivoire to meet the election scheduled in October, said Arrion, urging that all Cote d'Ivoire leaders should attach importance to elements guaranteeing a just and transparent election.

Arrion said the EU would continue providing financial aid to Cote d'Ivoire after € 93.2 million (about US$115.6 million) had been provided for its reconstruction work and € 7.9 million (about US$9.8 million) for presidential and parliamentary elections.

He added the EU had been a privileged partner of Cote d'Ivoire for 40 years, and it was a tradition of cooperation.

Despite various peace deals, Cote d'Ivoire remains divided between a government-held south and rebel-controlled north after its 2002-2003 civil war.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution last October and endorsed the African Union's suggestion to extend Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo's five-year term mandate by one more year.

The UN also hoped the war-torn country could hold its presidential election by no later than Oct. 30 this year.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2006)