SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF CHARLES KONAN BANNY AS CÔTE D’IVOIRE PRIME MINISTER

Security Council

5318^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT WELCOMES APPOINTMENT

OF CHARLES KONAN BANNY AS C ÔTE D’IVOIRE PRIME MINISTER

The Security Council today welcomed the appointment of Charles Konan Banny as Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, and expressed its full support for him.

In a presidential statement read out by the Council President, Emyr Jones Parry ( United Kingdom), the Council commended the continued and decisive efforts of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s President; South Africa’s President, Thabo Mbeki; and Mamadou Tandja, Niger’s President, and reiterated its full support for them.

The Council endorsed the final communiqué of the International Working Group of 6 December, and recalled its previous final communiqué of 8 November.  That had stated that the fundamental basis of the peace and national reconciliation process was now enshrined in resolution 1633 (2005), that the Prime Minister had full authority over the Cabinet which he would establish, and that he must have all the necessary powers and resources described in resolution 1633 (2005).

Further, the Council stressed that resolution 1633 (2005) must be fully implemented by the Ivorian parties under the Working Group’s monitoring.  It urged the establishment, without delay, of the Government, so that the Prime Minister could implement as soon as possible the road map defined by the Working Group.  The Council requested the Mediation Group and the Working Group to monitor the matter closely.

The meeting began at 10:12 a.m. and was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of the presidential statement, to be issued as document S/PRST/2005/60, reads as follows:

“The Security Council welcomes the appointment of Mr. Charles Konan Banny as Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, and expresses its full support for him.  It also commends the continued and decisive efforts of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Thabo Mbeki and Mamadou Tandja, and reiterates its full support for them.

“The Security Council endorses the final communiqué of the International Working Group (IWG) of 6 December 2005. It recalls the IWG’s previous final communiqué of 8 November which stated in particular that the fundamental basis of the peace and national reconciliation process is enshrined in resolution 1633 (2005) and that the IWG will provide all necessary support to the new Prime Minister and the Government that he establish. The Council also reaffirms its support for the decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council, which stresses that the Ministers shall be accountable to the Prime Minister who shall have full authority over his Cabinet.

“The Security Council recalls and reaffirms that the Prime Minister must have all the necessary powers and resources described in resolution 1633, and stresses the importance of the full implementation of this resolution by the Ivorian parties under the monitoring of the IWG.  Therefore, the Security Council urges the establishment without delay of the Government so that the Prime Minister can implement as soon as possible the road map defined by the IWG, and requests the Mediation Group and the IWG to monitor this matter closely.

“The Security Council reiterates its full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the High Representative for the elections.”

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*     Reissued for technical reasons.

For information media • not an official record