SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT PROMISES SUPPORT ORGANIZING CÔTE D’IVOIRE ELECTIONS, TO BE HELD NOT LATER THAN 30 OCTOBER 2006

Security Council

5281^st Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT PROMISES SUPPORT ORGANIZING

CÔTE D’IVOIRE ELECTIONS, TO BE HELD NOT LATER THAN 30 OCTOBER 2006

Will Consider Increasing Strength of UN Operation;

Endorses Decision of African Union’s Peace and Security Council

Taking note of the African Union’s request for an increase in the strength of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), the Security Council this afternoon expressed its intention to rapidly take the measures necessary to support the Union’s call for free and fair elections in that country to take place no later that 30 October 2006.

Endorsing decisions made by the Peace and Security Council of the Union made on 6 October 2005 in Addis Ababa, through a statement read out by its President, Mihnea Ioan Motoc of Romania, the Council expressed its intention to consider whether to provide additional resources to the UN mission, based on careful study of the conditions in the country and of meaningful progress towards implementation of long-standing commitments.  The Council also re-affirmed its support for the Linas-Marcoussis, Accra III and Pretoria Agreements and the continuing efforts of the Union itself.

In particular, it welcomed the forthcoming visit of a high-level delegation led by President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa to Côte d’Ivoire and urged all the Ivorian parties to cooperate with it fully and in good faith.

The meeting of the Council began at 12:10 p.m. and adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of the presidential statement, which will be issued as S/PRST/2005/49, reads, as follows:

“The Security Council heard a briefing by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Mr. Oluyemi Adeniji, the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union, Mr. Saïd Djinnit, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Pierre Schori, and the High Representative for the Elections, Mr. Antonio Monteiro, during its meeting on 13 October 2005, 

“The Security Council appreciates the efforts of the African Union, in particular President Thabo Mbeki of the Republic of South Africa and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Chair of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the leaders of the region, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the High Representative for the Elections to promote peace and stability in Côte d’Ivoire, and reiterates its full support for these efforts.

“The Security Council endorses the decision of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire adopted at its 40th meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government held on 6 October 2005 in Addis Ababa (S/2005/639), expresses its intention to take rapidly the necessary  measures to support as appropriate its implementation, in order to organize free, fair, open, transparent and credible elections as soon as possible and no later than 30 October 2006, and looks forward to regular reports on its implementation in accordance with paragraph 10, article (v) of the decision of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union,

“The Security Council takes note, in particular, of the Peace and Security Council’s request for an increase in the strength of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), without prejudice to any future decision or commitment of the Security Council in this regard.  The Security Council expresses its intention to consider whether to provide additional resources to UNOCI, based on careful study of conditions in the country and of evidence of meaningful progress toward implementation of long-standing commitments under Linas-Marcoussis and other relevant agreements,

“The Security Council reaffirms that it endorsed the Linas-Marcoussis, Accra III and Pretoria Agreements, and demands that all the parties signatory to these agreements, as well as all the Ivorian parties concerned, implement fully and without delay their commitments under these agreements, in accordance with the decision of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union,

“The Security Council welcomes the forthcoming visit of a high-level delegation led by Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Thabo Mbeki to Côte d’Ivoire, expresses its full support to it, and urges all the Ivorian parties to cooperate fully and in good faith with this delegation, in particular in order to ensure the rapid implementation of the decision of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the early appointment of a Prime Minister acceptable to all parties, and to guarantee, with the support of the United Nations, the organization of free, fair, open, transparent and credible elections,

“The Security Council expresses its full support for the forthcoming visit to the region of the Chair of the Sanctions Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004), and underlines that the purpose of this visit is to assess the progress made by all parties towards the implementation of their commitments, bearing in mind the Committee’s mandate under paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004), and to remind all Ivorian parties of their responsibilities for the full and rapid implementation of the peace process.”

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For information media • not an official record