The Secretary-General welcomes yesterday's decision by the General Assembly to approve by consensus the report of the Credentials Committee thereby accepting the credentials of the representatives of Member States to the 65th session of the Assembly.

In particular, the Secretary-General welcomes the General Assembly's decision to accept the credentials of the representatives of Côte d'Ivoire, issued on 22 December 2010 by Jean-Marie Kacou Gervais, Minister of Foreign Affairs of President Alassane Ouattara. This important decision reflects the united position of the international community with respect to the legitimacy of the new government led by President Ouattara.

The Secretary-General extends his gratitude to the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss, the Chairman of the Credentials Committee, Ambassador Vanu Gopala Menon of Singapore, and to all Members of the Credentials Committee.