SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES IVORIAN PARTIES TO FAITHFULLY IMPLEMENT PRETORIA AGREEMENT

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

The Secretary-General takes note of the renewed commitment expressed by the Ivorian parties in their declaration of 29 June, to implement the Pretoria Agreement on the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire, and congratulates the African Union Mediator, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, on this achievement.

The Secretary-General urges the parties to strictly adhere to the revised timetable for the implementation of key provisions of the Agreement so that credible elections can be held on schedule.  The time has come to move on this path briskly.  The Secretary-General also notes that the declaration envisages the imposition of sanctions against those parties who fail to implement the Pretoria Agreement.

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