Security Council Press Statement on Elections in Côte d’Ivoire

 

The following press statement was issued today by Security Council President Mark Lyall Grant ( United Kingdom):

The members of the Security Council reiterated their satisfaction with the organization of the first round of the presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire on 31 October 2010, and thereby stressed the need for the Ivorian stakeholders to preserve this historic and critical gain in the Ivorian peace process.

The members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the recent incidents in Côte d’Ivoire.  They further urged the two candidates and all political leaders to maintain a calm and peaceful atmosphere throughout the electoral process and to appeal to their supporters to refrain from any acts of violence, provocation and incitement to violence.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their vigilance as regards those who, notably, obstruct the peace and electoral process and publicly incite hatred and violence, as set out by resolution 1946, adopted on 15 October 2010.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in the implementation of its mandate.  They further approved, by resolution 1951 (2010), the deployment, prior to the run-off scheduled for 28 November 2010, of additional capacities from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to UNOCI, as requested by the Secretary-General.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the determination of the Facilitator, President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, to continue helping the Ivorian parties to pursue a successful completion of the electoral process in Côte d’Ivoire, and reiterated their full support to the certification mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Choi Young-jin.

The members of the Security Council expressed their determination to continue to closely monitor the situation in Côte d’Ivoire.

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For information media • not an official record