SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES 14 MAY AGREEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE

 

DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION, REINTEGRATION

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement on the time frame and modalities for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as a plan for the restructuring of the armed forces, signed by the Chiefs of Staff of the Ivorian National Armed Forces (FANCI) and the Forces Nouvelles (FN) on 14 May 2005, under the auspices of the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration.

The Secretary-General urges the parties to implement their respective commitments in close cooperation with the United Nations and in accordance with the agreed timetable.  The Secretary-General also calls on the Ivorian parties to ensure expeditious implementation of the other aspects of the Pretoria Agreement.

* *** *