Côte d’Ivoire: Annan welcomes disarmament pact, urges further action

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed a weekend agreement by the Government and armed opposition in Côte d’Ivoire to undertake a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process (DDR) and called on them to implement other aspects of the comprehensive accord negotiated by the African Union (AU).

On behalf of Mr. Annan, a UN spokesperson welcomed the accord on the timeframe and modalities for the DDR process in Cote d'Ivoire, as well as a plan for the restructuring of the armed forces, signed by the Chiefs of Staff of the Ivorian National Armed Forces (FANCI) and the Forces Nouvelles (FN) on Saturday.

In a statement, Marie Okabe urged them to implement all of their commitments in the time framework in the April agreement and in cooperation with the UN.

“The Secretary-General also calls on the Ivorian parties to ensure expeditious implementation of the other aspects of the Pretoria Agreement” negotiated by South African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the AU, she said.

Under the Pretoria Agreement, the signatory parties were to carry out actions that included jointly declaring the end of war, disarming and dismantling militias throughout the country, creating one army for the whole West African country and ensuring security for the opposition Forces Nouvelles, especially for its ministers in the Government of National Reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the peacekeeping UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire said in a statement that the agreement, reached in the capital, Yamoussoukro, was a major step for the peace process and in the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement. The mission also offered to support the DDR process.