Security Council agrees to delay Côte d'Ivoire elections until at latest October 2006

The United Nations Security Council today endorsed the African Union's (AU) decision that elections in Côte d'Ivoire be postponed until at latest next October and said it would rapidly take measures to support the UN peacekeeping mission in the country based on progress in implementing the peace agreements that ended a fierce civil war.

In a statement read by this month's president, Ambassador Mihnea Ioan Motoc of Romania, the Council took particular note of the AU Peace and Security Council's request to strengthen the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

"The Security Council expresses its intention to consider whether to provide additional resources to UNOCI, based on careful study of conditions in the country and of evidence of meaningful progress toward implementation of long-standing commitments under Linas-Marcoussis and other relevant agreements," the Council President said.

The Council fully supported the forthcoming visit to the region of the Chair of the UN Sanctions Committee and underlined that the purpose was to assess the progress made by all parties towards implementing their commitments.

The Security Council was briefed on the situation in the West African country yesterday by Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Pierre Schori, UN High Representative for the Elections Antonio Monteiro, Foreign Minister Oluyemi Adeniji of Nigeria, the AU chair, and AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Saïd Djinnit.

Today's statement voiced the Council's continued support for AU efforts to promote peace and stability in Côte d'Ivoire, in particular those of South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is the AU mediator, AU Chairman Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and regional leaders.

The Security Council reaffirmed that it endorsed the Linas-Marcoussis, Accra III and Pretoria Agreements, and demanded that all the parties who signed those peace agreements implement their commitments fully and without delay.

It also welcomed the forthcoming visit to Côte d'Ivoire of a high-level delegation led by Presidents Obasanjo and Mbeki and urged all the Ivorian parties to cooperate fully in ensuring the early appointment of an acceptable Prime Minister, and to guarantee, with UN support, the organization of free, fair, open, transparent and credible elections no later than 30 October 2006.