Security Council Press Statement on Côte d’Ivoire Elections

The following press statement was issued today by Security Council President Susan Rice ( United States):

The members of the Security Council were briefed by Mr. Y.J. Choi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Côte d’Ivoire, on the electoral process in the country.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the holding of the presidential run-off elections in Côte d’Ivoire on 28 November 2010 with a massive and peaceful participation.  They further took note of the assessment of the Special Representative indicating that the run-off has been conducted in a democratic climate.

The members of the Security Council reminded the leaders that they bear primary responsibility for ensuring a peaceful process and called upon them to exercise restraint, refrain from any interference in the work of the Independent Electoral Commission, and honour their commitments to respect the results, address their complaints through the legal procedures and resolve their differences peacefully.  They further urged the supporters of the candidates to refrain from any provocation or recourse to violence throughout the electoral process.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the announcement of the provisional results of the presidential run-off elections by the Independent Electoral Commission, which is a crucial step for ensuring the validity and integrity of the electoral process and thereby an important element in the process of certification of the final results by the Special Representative.

They further stressed the critical role played by the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in assisting the Independent Electoral Commission in conducting open, free, fair and transparent elections, and ensuring stability, as set out by resolution 1933 (2010).

The members of the Security Council welcomed the contribution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-mandated facilitator, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their readiness to take the appropriate measures against those who obstruct the electoral process and, especially, the work of the Independent Electoral Commission, as set out by paragraph 6 of resolution 1946 (2010).

The members of the Security Council expressed their determination to continue to closely monitor the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, in particular the security conditions on the ground and the efforts to successfully conclude the electoral process.

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For information media • not an official record