Comoros: Annan appeals to all parties to adhere to reconciliation agreement

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today appealed to all parties in the Comoros to adhere to a reconciliation agreement they signed earlier this year aimed at ending the country's secessionist crisis.

According to a statement released by a spokesperson for Mr. Annan, the Secretary-General has been closely following developments in the Comoros since the February signing of the Framework Agreement for Reconciliation. That agreement aimed to resolve the crisis spawned in 1997 by the attempted secession of the island of Anjouan, which is located in the middle of the archipelago.

In the statement, the Secretary-General expresses concern at the Anjouanese party's decision to suspend its participation in the follow-up mechanism put in place by the Agreement, and calls on that party to reconsider its position.

"The agreement represents a unique opportunity to promote national reconciliation in the Comoros and to preserve its territorial integrity," the statement emphasizes.

The Secretary-General also praises the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and its partners for "the important role they played in facilitating the signing of the Agreement and the efforts they are making to ensure its implementation."

At the same time, he offers the UN's full backing for efforts to assist the Comoros, reiterating the world body's readiness to contribute to the country's reconstruction "and the promotion of its democratic institutions, including assistance for the forthcoming elections."