Security Council welcomes progress towards new government in Côte d'Ivoire

While welcoming the progressive efforts of the parties in Côte d'Ivoire towards the formation of a new government, the United Nations Security Council today nevertheless voiced concern for the continuing violence in the country, calling for an immediate end to attacks aimed at undermining the peace and reconciliation process.

"Members of the Council express concern at recent violations of the ceasefire and call on all parties to respect the commitments they made and to immediately end attacks that undermined the process of peace and reconciliation," the Council's President, Ambassador Adolfo Aguilar Zinser of Mexico, said in a press statement.

To that end, the Council members expressed their deep concern at the use of mercenaries, other foreign armed elements, forced recruitment, including recruitment of children, and demanded all parties to immediately refrain from such practices.

Also concerned about the humanitarian situation, members of the Council called upon the parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law, Ambassador Zinser said, adding that they also called on the parties to continue to move the Linas-Marcoussis process forward. In that regard, they welcomed a new decree delegating powers to the Prime Minster, and reaffirmed their willingness to support the efforts of the parties in implementing their commitments, he said.

"They took note with satisfaction of the 11 April statement of Ivoirian President Laurent Gbagbo and called for its implementation," Ambassador Zinser said, adding that the Council members also reaffirmed their full support for the monitoring committee created under the new peace accord.

"Members of the Council renewed their support for the French and Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) forces," he said, and stressed that they had called on donors to distribute the contributions they have announced to finance and, if possible, strengthen ECOWAS forces.

The Council also called on Member States to respond to the appeal that will be launched at the end of the month in Abidjan and Geneva, the Council President said.

"Members of the Council recalled their intention to travel in the near future to West Africa, in particular to Côte d'Ivoire," he added.