Security Council Press Statement on Situation in Côte d’Ivoire

 

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ivan Barbalić ( Bosnia and Herzegovina):

The Security Council received a briefing on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire from [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] Under-Secretary-General Alain Le Roy on 5 January.

The members of the Security Council expressed their support for the efforts by the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in seeking a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire.   The members of the Security Council welcomed the 3 January Joint African Union-ECOWAS mission to Côte d’Ivoire and its Communiqué of 4 January 2011, and in view of the recognition set out in the Communiqué of Alassane Dramane Ouattara as President of Côte d’Ivoire, the Members of the Security Council reiterated their call on all Ivorian parties and stakeholders to respect the will of the people and the outcome of the election.

The members of the Security Council underscored their strong desire that the political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire be resolved peacefully.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the intention of the African Union and ECOWAS to dispatch another joint high-level mission as soon as possible to continue discussions with the two parties and encouraged the African Union’s and ECOWAS’ sustained engagement.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern over continued violence and human rights violations in Côte d’Ivoire, including against United Nations peacekeepers, and condemned deliberate attempts to impede the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) from fulfilling its mandate, including the protection of civilians and the investigation of reported atrocities.  In this context, the members of the Security Council strongly condemned and demanded an immediate halt to the use of media, especially via Radiodiffusion-Télévision ivoirienne (RTI), to propagate false information to incite hatred and violence, including against the United Nations.

The members of the Security Council condemned attacks against peacekeepers and civilians.  The members of the Security Council stressed that those responsible for crimes against United Nations personnel and civilians must be held accountable.

The members of the Security Council urged all Ivorians to exercise maximum restraint, remain calm, resist provocative actions, refrain from violence and work together to restore sustainable peace.

The members of the Security Council underscored UNOCI’s vital role and demanded that all parties allow for UNOCI’s complete freedom of movement.

The members of the Security Council deplored the ongoing blockade around the Golf Hotel and urged Mr. Gbagbo to honour his pledge to the joint AU/ECOWAS mission to lift it immediately.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the submission of the detailed recommendations and proposals from the Secretary-General to support and reinforce UNOCI.

The members of the Security Council reiterated the readiness of the Security Council to impose measures, including targeted sanctions against persons who threaten the peace process, obstruct the work of UNOCI and other international actors, or commit serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, as underlined in United Nations Security Council resolution 1946 (2010).

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For information media • not an official record