UN official in Côte d’Ivoire discusses peace process with political party leader

The top United Nations envoy in Côte d’Ivoire, Y. J. Choi, has met with the leader of the Rally of Republicans (RDR) political party, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, to discuss the situation in the West African country, particularly issues related to the electoral process and reunification.

“We have noticed a prolonged political impasse with regard to these two issues and it is creating tension,” Mr. Choi, who serves as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative, said after the meeting yesterday.

“The situation is very delicate for the crisis-resolution process. The electoral dynamic must be rapidly renewed and efforts must be made towards reunification, so that together we can make progress in the crisis-resolution process,” he added.

Presidential elections were supposed to be held as far back as 2005 but have been repeatedly postponed, most recently from this past March. A new date has not yet been set.

Mr. Choi, who is also the head of the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), said that he had discussed the forthcoming Security Council meeting on the country, scheduled for June 2010, with Mr. Ouattara.

In this regard, Mr. Choi, who on Tuesday met with the leader of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), Henri Konan Bédié, explained that he intended to meet with all the protagonists of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement.

The Ouagadougou Agreement, signed in the capital of neighbouring Burkina Faso in 2007, details a series of measures to deal with the crisis that first divided Côte d’Ivoire in 2002 between the Government-controlled south and the north.