Press Encounter with Secretary-General Kofi Annan Following Security Council Consultations on Côte d'Ivoire (unofficial transcript)

Q: Do you want to comment on Ivory Coast, Sir?

SG: The [Security] Council just discussed the agreement in Paris and appealed for calm, and their strong support for the agreement. They realize that this is only a beginning. But all the Ivoirian parties, those who were in Paris and signed the Agreement, have to explain it to their people and work hard to implement it. I think the Agreement offers them a chance to restore peace and stability in that country.

This is a situation that is of great importance to the people in the country and to their neighbours. I have indicated to the Council that I will be appointing a Special Representative to act on my behalf on the ground, and will be submitting further proposals to them as to what the UN can do.

But in the meantime, I appeal to all the people of Ivory Coast to stop the violence, to return to their normal life and the way to resolve this issue is not to turn on each other violently.