SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Following is the press statement on Côte d’Ivoire delivered today by Security Council President Gunther Pleuger (Germany):

Members of the Security Council were informed by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast of the results of the first two meetings of the Committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.  They expressed satisfaction that the Committee has been promptly established and is now fully operational, under the chairmanship of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Côte d’Ivoire, Albert Tévoedjré.

Members of the Security Council called again on all Ivorian political forces to implement fully and without delay the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and to cooperate with the Monitoring Committee to that end.  They expressed the wish to be kept informed, in accordance with the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, of any failure by any of the parties to implement its obligations under the Agreement.

Members of the Security Council encouraged the newly appointed Prime Minister to continue his efforts towards the establishment of a balanced and stable government.

Members of the Council expressed deep concern at the humanitarian and economic consequences of the Ivorian crisis for the whole region.  They called on all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law for the entire population regardless of its origin.  They invited donors to provide assistance to meet these challenges.

Members of the Security Council expressed once again their full support for the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) forces and French forces supporting them.  They called on Member States to provide appropriate financial and logistical support to the ECOWAS forces.

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