SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE

The following statement to the press was delivered today by Security Council President Peter Burian ( Slovakia):

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing by Pierre Schori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Côte d’Ivoire.  They commended him for the work he has accomplished as the head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI).

Members of the Security Council have taken note of the report of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which underlines that the peace process remains in a stalemate and expressed deep concern at the delay in the implementation of the decisions taken by ECOWAS endorsed by the African Union Peace and Security Council and by the Security Council in its resolution 1721 (2006).

Members of the Security Council welcomed the commitment by President Laurent Gbagbo and by the Secretary-General of the Forces Nouvelles, Guillaume Soro, to engage in a dialogue in order to move the peace process forward, with the support of all Ivorian parties.  They encouraged President Blaise Compaore to facilitate the rapid conclusion of an agreement.  They recalled that this dialogue must take place in the framework of resolution 1721 (2006) and lead to the full implementation of its provisions.  They reiterated the role of the Prime Minister, Charles Konan Banny, as outlined in resolution 1721 (2006).

Members of the Security Council underlined that neutral and impartial official media, and the immediate concomitant launching of a programme of citizen identification and disarming of the armed groups, are necessary to create the conditions for the organization of free, fair and credible elections by 31 October.

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For information media • not an official record