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Annan presents exchange of letters on Côte d'Ivoire mission

Annan presents exchange of letters on Côte d'Ivoire mission

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today released an exchange of letters between his office and the Security Council on the status of the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (MINUCI).

Mr. Annan has given the President of the General Assembly copies of the letters as they relate to the budgeting for MINUCI, whose mandate is due to expire next month.

In a letter dated 13 October, the Security Council's current President, Ambassador John D. Negroponte of the United States, said MINUCI should be classified as a "special political mission" and not as a peacekeeping operation.

Mr. Negroponte said that during imminent consultations on renewing MINUCI's mandate beyond next month, the Council would review whether MINUCI should become a peacekeeping mission and whether the UN's presence in Côte d'Ivoire needs to be reinforced.

In his reply dated 23 October, Mr. Annan acknowledged Mr. Negroponte's remarks, and welcomed the Council's preparedness to consider whether MINUCI should be reinforced.