IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR DESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

Security Council

5314^th Meeting (PM)

IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR DESIGNATION

OF PRIME MINISTER OF C ÔTE D’IVOIRE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

Expressing Deep Concern at Persistent Disagreements among Ivorian

Parties, Council Calls Appointment Crucial to Relaunch of Peace Process

The Security Council today, affirming that the rapid appointment of a Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire is crucial to relaunching the peace process leading up to the holding of elections no later than 31 October 2006, considered that the Prime Minister must be designated without any further delay.

In a statement read out by its President, Andrey Denisov (Russian Federation), the Council stressed that the Prime Minister must have all the necessary powers and resources described in paragraph 8 of resolution 1633 of 21 October 2005, by which the Council, among other things, urged the African Union Chairman, the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States, and the African Union Mediator to ensure the appointment -- by 31 October 2005 -- of a new Prime Minister acceptable to all the signatories of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.

Commending the initiatives by the Chairperson of the African Union, the Chairperson of ECOWAS and the African Union Mediator, the Council urged them to expedite their efforts and, given the consultations they have held, identify as soon as possible the candidate for the office of Prime Minister they deem acceptable to all parties signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.  It also endorsed the International Working Group’s final communiqué of 8 November 2005 and welcomed its decision to hold its second meeting on 6 December 2005 in Abidjan.

Commending the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and the High Representative for the elections, the Council encouraged the Ivorian parties to cooperate fully with the High Representative to resolve the current dispute concerning the Independent Electoral Commission, and reaffirmed that the High Representative, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 1603 (2005), can make all the necessary determinations to help move forward the electoral process.

The Council also reaffirmed its readiness, in close consultation with the African Union Mediation, to impose individual measures provided for in paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004) and resolution 1633 (2005) against any person blocking the implementation of the peace process or who was determined to be responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, or who publicly incited hatred and violence, or who was determined to have violated the arms embargo against Côte d’Ivoire.

The Linas-Marcoussis Agreement halted fighting between the Government of President Laurent Gbagbo and rebels controlling most of northern Côte d’Ivoire.  It led to a ceasefire between the Government and the Forces nouvelles that took effect on 3 May 2003, as well as the creation of the Government of National Reconciliation.

The Pretoria Agreement of 6 April 2004, mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the African Union, established a new plan for the peaceful resolution to the Ivorian crisis.  A third accord, reached in the Ghanaian capital on 30 July 2004 and known as the Accra III Agreement, focused on those parts of Linas-Marcoussis that remained in dispute.  Lack of progress in those areas and continuing ceasefire and human rights violations caused the one-year delay of the Ivorian elections.

The meeting began at 1:30 p.m. and adjourned at 1:34 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2005/58, reads as follows:

“The Security Council reaffirms that the rapid appointment of a Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire is crucial to relaunch the peace process leading to the holding of free, fair, open and transparent elections no later than 31 October 2006, and to implement fully the road map established by the International Working Group (IWG) at its first meeting on 8 November 2005 in Abidjan.

“Therefore, the Security Council expresses its deep concern at the persistent disagreements among Ivorian parties on the appointment of the Prime Minister and considers that the Prime Minister must be designated without any further delay.  The Council stresses once again that the Prime Minister must have all the necessary powers and resources described in paragraph 8 of resolution 1633 (2005).

“The Security Council commends the initiatives undertaken by the Chairperson of the African Union, the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union Mediator, and notes that their consultations with the parties signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement have been held, as provided for by the decision of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union of 6 October 2005 and by resolution 1633 (2005).  It reiterates its full support for them and urges them to expedite their efforts.  The Security Council urges them to identify as soon as possible the candidate for the office of Prime Minister they deem acceptable to all parties signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, given the consultations they have held.

“The Security Council expresses its full support for the IWG, endorses its final communiqué of 8 November 2005, welcomes its decision to hold its second meeting on 6 December 2005 in Abidjan, and urges the IWG to keep the Council informed of the conclusions of its work.

“The Security Council commends also the continuing efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the High Representative for the elections, and reiterates its support for them.  In particular, it encourages the Ivorian parties to cooperate fully with the High Representative for the elections to resolve the current dispute concerning the Independent Electoral Commission and reaffirms that the High Representative, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 1603 (2005), can make all the necessary determinations in order to help the electoral process move forward.

“The Security Council reaffirms its readiness, in close consultation with the African Union Mediation, to impose individual measures provided for in paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004) and in resolution 1633 (2005).”

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For information media • not an official record