Security Council

5606^th Meeting (PM)

Security Council reiterates full support for international working group

as guarantor, arbiter of Côte d’Ivoire peace process

 

Presidential Statement Urges Parties to Cooperate with Prime Minister,

Implement All Provisions of Road Map, Aimed at Elections by 31 October 2007

The Security Council this afternoon, reiterating its full support for the International Working Group as guarantor and impartial arbiter for Côte d’Ivoire’s peace process, urged all Ivorian parties to cooperate fully with that country’s Prime Minister to implement all the provisions of the Working Group’s road map, including the identification of population and the registration of voters, and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme, which are central to the peace process.

Through a presidential statement read out by its President for December, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser (Qatar), the Council, sharing the Working Group’s grave concern at delays in the implementation of resolution 1721 (2006) and endorsing the final communiqué of its 1 December 2006 meeting, insisted that all Ivorian parties apply, under the Prime Minister’s direction, the implementation timeline for the road map.  It also encouraged the Group to promote enhanced dialogue with all Ivorian parties.

Reiterating its full support for Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny, the Council strongly encouraged him to continue his endeavours, in consultation with President Laurent Gbagbo, including his efforts to fight impunity and promote good governance, and to utilize all the powers referred to in resolution 1721 (2006) to prepare for elections, which must be held by 31 October 2007 at the latest.  In that regard, the Council welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of immediate measures to relaunch the identification process, and expects more concrete measures in place to implement the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme.

The Council also reaffirmed that the Prime Minister must exercise his powers without hindrance, including his authority over the Defence and Security Forces referred to resolution 1721, and called upon all Ivorian parties to support his efforts.  It also invited the African Union Mediator to visit Côte d’Ivoire to relaunch the peace process as soon as possible, if necessary in cooperation with all other African leaders.

In preparation for the Working Group’s next meeting on 12 January 2007, the Council requested the Group to provide a detailed, updated timeline, by 1 February 2007 at the latest, for the implementation of the peace process and all the recommendations needed for the consideration of the situation by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union.

Recalling that the neutrality and impartiality of the public media are essential to the peace process, the Council supported the Group’s view that it is indispensable to reinstate the dismissed officials of the Radio Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI) and Fraternité Matin.  It also recalled that obstacles to the freedom of movement of the impartial forces, in particular those put up by the Republican Guard, are unacceptable.

The meeting began at 1:08 p.m. and adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

The full text of the presidential statement, to be issued as document S/PRST/2006/58, reads as follows:

“The Security Council reiterates once again its full support for the International Working Group (IWG), recalls its role as guarantor and impartial arbiter of the peace process, and supports its final communiqué of 1 December 2006 and also encourages the IWG to promote enhanced dialogue with all Ivorian parties.  It insists that all Ivorian parties apply, under the direction of the Prime Minister, the implementation timeline for the road map drawn up by the IWG.

“The Security Council shares the grave concern expressed by the IWGat delays in the implementation of resolution 1721 (2006), and urges all Ivorian parties to cooperate fully with the Prime Minister in order to implement all the provisions of the road map drawn up by the IWG and referred to in resolution 1721 (2006), including the identification of population and the registration of voters, and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme, which are central to the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire.

“The Security Council, bearing in mind provisions of resolution 1572 (2004)recalls that the neutrality and impartiality of the public media are essential to the peace process, and supports the IWG which considered that it is indispensable to reinstate the dismissed officials of the Radio Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI) and Fraternité Matin.  It recalls also that obstacles to the freedom of movement of the impartial forces,in particular those put up by the Republican Guard, are unacceptable.

“The Security Council reiterates its full support for the Prime Minister, Mr. Charles Konan Banny.  It strongly encourages him to continue his endeavours, in consultation with President Laurent Gbagbo, including his efforts to fight impunity and promote good governance, and to utilize all the powers referred to in resolution 1721 (2006) to prepare for elections, which must be held by 31 October 2007 at the latest.  The Council welcomes in this regard the announcement by the Prime Minister of immediate measures to relaunch the identification process, and expects more concrete measures in place to implement the DDR programme.  The Security Council reaffirms that the Prime Minister must exercise his powers without hindrance, including his authority over the Defence and Security Forces referred to in resolution 1721, and calls upon all Ivorian parties to support his efforts.

“The Security Council invites the African Union Mediator to visit Côte d’Ivoire to relaunch the peace process as soon as possible, if necessary in cooperation with all other African leaders.

“The Security Council requests the IWG, in preparation for its next meeting on 12 January 2007, to provide a detailed updated timeline for the implementation of the peace process, and all the recommendations needed for the consideration of the situation by ECOWAS and the African Union by 1 February 2007 at the latest.

“The Security Council reiterates its full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Pierre Schori, for the High Representative for the elections, Mr. Gérard Stoudmann, and for the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) as well as for the French forces which support it.”

* *** *

For information media • not an official record