ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE, 5 JULY

On Wednesday, 5 July, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan travelled from Monrovia in Liberia to Yamassoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.

He first met with South African President Thabo Mbeki, who was attending that mini-summit, and, after that, met with Côte d’Ivoire’s President, Laurent Gbagbo.

He convened a high-level meeting with the Presidents of Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and South Africa, as well as the foreign ministers of Ghana and Burkina Faso and leaders of the Ivorian political parties.  This mini-summit was held to discuss the implementation of the road map for Côte d’Ivoire.

Speaking to the press later, he said the meeting had been very constructive, adding that the participants agreed to meet again on the margins of the General Assembly in September, to take stock.  Asked about any potential delays in the timetable for Côte d’Ivoire, the Secretary-General responded, “I think every participant indicated that they are going to do their maximum to ensure that the calendar is respected, and I hope that everyone will do their part.”

The Secretary-General departed in the early evening for Accra, Ghana.