SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES INITIATIVES TO IMPLEMENT CÔTE D’IVOIRE PEACE PROCESS, BUT STRONGLY CONDEMNS ACTS OF VIOLENCE

Security Council

5442^nd Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES INITIATIVES TO IMPLEMENT C ÔTE D’IVOIRE

PEACE PROCESS, BUT STRONGLY CONDEMNS ACTS OF VIOLENCE

Presidential Statement Demands End to Public Messages Inciting Hatred

The Security Council today welcomed the launching of Côte d’Ivoire’s first public hearings in seven locations, but also strongly condemned the acts of violence against civilians, political leaders and impartial forces, and demanded that all parties refrain from publicly inciting hatred and violence.

In a statement (document S/PRST/2006/23) read out by Basile Ikouebe ( Congo), its President for May, the Council also welcomed the discussions between the Chiefs of Staff of the Ivorian Armed Forces and the Forces Nouvelles to initiate without delay talks on the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme.  However, it reiterated its grave concern at the serious delay in the implementation of the road map established by the International Working Group, as well as that expressed by the Secretary-General in his report of 11 April 2006, underlining that many of the essential tasks envisaged in the road map remained to be executed.

(In paragraph 74 of that report, the Secretary-General says “the window of opportunity is very narrow, and time is running out”.  Any further delays or disruptions in the peace process would mean there would not be sufficient time to complete all critical tasks if elections were to be held by October.  It was important, therefore, for the Council to send a strong signal to the parties that, if they failed to meet the October election deadline, the international community “will not be in a position to simply once again agree to extend the current governance arrangements”.)

The Council commended Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny for having taken, in cooperation with President Laurent Gbagbo, concrete steps constituting a first step towards implementing the peace process, and invited the Prime Minister and the Government of National Reconciliation to take immediately all necessary measures to accelerate implementation of the road map, particularly the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants and identification operations, the redeployment of the administration throughout the territory, and the country’s reunification.

Calling on the Ivorian authorities to take, without delay, all necessary steps so that those responsible for the violence were identified and punished, and to ensure the full independence and neutrality of Radio Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI), the Council urged all Ivorian parties to cooperate closely with the Prime Minister in order to create the conditions for the holding of free, open, fair and transparent elections by 31 October.

In addition, the Council underlined that targeted measures would be imposed against persons designated by the Committee established by its resolution 1572 (2004) who, among other things, blocked implementation of the peace process, including by attacking or obstructing the action of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), of the French forces supporting it, of the High Representative for the elections, or of the International Working Group, or who publicly incited hatred and violence.

The meeting began at 12:50 p.m. and ended at 1 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2006/23 reads, as follows:

“The Security Council expresses its full support for the International Working Group (IWG) and endorses its seventh final communiqué dated 19 April 2006.

“The Security Council welcomes the launching of first pilot operations of public hearings in seven locations, in particular in Abidjan, in the South and in the North of the country.  It welcomes also the discussions engaged by the Chiefs of Staff of the Defence and Security Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FANCI) and the Armed Forces of the Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) to initiate without delay the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme.

“The Security Council commends Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny, for having taken, in cooperation with President Laurent Gbagbo, these concrete initiatives which constitute a first step towards the implementation of the peace process he leads.  It reiterates to him its full support.

“The Security Council calls upon the community of donors to provide all the necessary financial resources to the High Representative for the Elections to support the full implementation of his mission.

“The Security Council underlines that many of the essential tasks envisaged in the road map established by the IWG remain to be executed.  It reiterates its grave concern at the serious delay in the implementation of the road map, as well as the one expressed by the Secretary-General in paragraph 74 of his report dated 11 April 2006 (S/2006/222).

“The Security Council strongly condemns the acts of violence against civilians, political leaders and impartial forces.  It demands that all Ivorian parties refrain from making any public messages that incite hatred and violence.  It warns all Ivorian parties in that regard.

“The Security Council invites the Prime Minister and the Government of National Reconciliation he leads to take immediately, with the support of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in accordance with its mandate, all the necessary measures to accelerate the implementation of the road map, in particular the DDR and identification operations, the redeployment of the administration throughout the territory and the reunification of the country.

“The Security Council calls upon the Ivorian authorities to take without delay all the necessary steps so that those responsible for violences are identified and punished, to keep the IWG and the Secretary-general informed in this regard, and, in close liaison with UNOCI, to ensure the full independence and neutrality of Radio Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI).

The Security Council urges all Ivorian parties, including the Chiefs of Staff of FANCI and FAFN, to closely cooperate with the Prime Minister in order to create the conditions indispensable for the holding of free, open, fair and transparent elections by 31 October 2006.

“The Security Council invites the IWG to report to it as soon as possible on its assessment of the implementation of the road map.

“The Security Council underlines that targeted measures are to be imposed against persons to be designated by the Committee established by paragraph 14 of resolution 1572 (2004) who, among other things, block the implementation of the peace process, including by attacking or obstructing the action of UNOCI, of the French forces which support it, of the High Representative for the elections or of the International Working Group, or who incite publicly hatred and violence, as provided in resolutions 1572 (2004) and 1643 (2005).”

* *** *

For information media • not an official record