UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for credible elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) within the constitutional time limits.

The coming period will be decisive for the CAR. The presidential, legislative and local elections represent a unique opportunity for national reconciliation and the consolidation of peace as well as the country's constitutional order and democratic achievements, Guterres told a high-level meeting on the CAR.

The elections, he said, also constitute a crucial step for the continuity of the political process.

The CAR authorities and all national stakeholders have a historic responsibility to ensure the proper conduct of these elections, which must be free, transparent, safe, inclusive and within the constitutional time limits, he said.

"I therefore call upon all stakeholders to prioritize national dialogue and consensus-building, in a spirit of respect and tolerance between different ethnic groups and religions."

All segments of the population of the CAR, in particular women, young people, internally displaced persons and refugees, must be at the center of efforts to consolidate democracy and, consequently, of this electoral process, he said.

It is vital for the international community to remain mobilized to support the peace process in a coordinated manner, said Guterres.

The support of the partners of the CAR remains indispensable for the holding of the elections within the constitutional time limits, as well as for the full and comprehensive implementation of the 2019 Political Agreement, he said. Enditem

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