Global perspective Human stories

New UN envoy meets with Côte d'Ivoire president

New UN envoy meets with Côte d'Ivoire president

Pierre Schori
The newly arrived top United Nations envoy for Côte d'Ivoire met with President Laurent Gbagbo today, discussing the West African country's peace process, particularly last week's talks between the Ivorian parties in South Africa.

Pierre Schori, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative and Chief of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), arrived last night in the southern city of Abidjan.

According to the UN mission, Mr. Schori expressed "the goodwill of UNOCI, the United Nations family and the international community with a view to providing the Ivorian people with the support they need to emerge from the crisis and attain stability and progress."

Mr. Schori also announced that he intended to work impartially in keeping with the clear mandate he had received from the Secretary-General. He said he intended to pursue his contacts with the Ivorian parties in the next few days and to visit neighbouring countries and Europe to assist in the return of peace.

"Through these direct contacts, I wish to familiarize myself more with the situation," he said.

Meanwhile, UNOCI reported that an arms inspection in line with Security Council resolution 1584 was conducted today in Man at the headquarters of the Forces Nouvelles and two of its barracks. No anomalies were noted.