SC/8272
17 December 2004
Security Council ‘Deplores’ Failure to Meet 15 December Deadline for Implementing Côte d’Ivoire Peace Agreement
Presidential Statement Also Expresses Full Support For African Union Facilitation Mission
NEW YORK, 16 December (UN Headquarters) -- The Security Council, which last month imposed an arms embargo on Côte d’Ivoire and gave the parties to the conflict until 15 December to implement their commitments under the peace agreements or also face travel bans and a freeze in financial assets, today deplored the fact that the parties have not implemented all their commitments and expressed its intention to consider without delay further steps to ensure the effective monitoring and implementation of the arms embargo.
In the statement read out by its President, Abdallah Baali (Algeria), the Council expressed full support for the facilitation mission taken by South African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the African Union to promote dialogue and relaunch the peace and national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire. It underlined that any failure by the Ivorian parties to respect their commitments to President Mbeki would constitute a threat to the implementation of peace and national reconciliation process, as defined in the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra III Agreements.
[The Accra III Agreement signed on 30 July in Accra, Ghana, aims at consolidating the peace process that began with the signing in January 2003 of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement in Linas-Marcoussis, France. That agreement called for the formation of a government of national reconciliation and the establishment of a monitoring committee to supervise compliance.]
The Council reaffirmed its conviction that the full implementation of resolution 1572 (2004), by which the Council first imposed sanctions on the country, is key to ensuring that all Ivorian parties commit themselves fully to the implementation of the peace and national reconciliation process.
The Council also requested that the Committee established by resolution 1572 continue its work, taking fully into account the developments of the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire arising from the African Union’s facilitation efforts.
[The Committee, consisting of all Council members, was established to undertake several tasks, including the designation of individuals and entities subject to the sanctions and the promulgation of guidelines as might be necessary to facilitate implementation of those measures.]
The Council demanded that all Ivorian parties stop all incitement to violence and hatred in broadcast, written and other media. It also demanded that all Ivorian parties ensure freedom of the press and unlimited access to information throughout Côte d’Ivoire.
The meeting began at 4:41 p.m. and adjourned at 4:48 p.m.
Presidential Statement
Following is the full text of the presidential statement, to be issued as S/PRST/2004/48:
“The Security Council commends the efforts made by the African Union and, in particular, the personal involvement of President Thabo Mbeki, President of the South African Republic, to promote dialogue and relaunch the peace and national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire. It expresses its full support for the facilitation mission undertaken by President Mbeki on behalf of the African Union.
“The Security Council welcomes the encouraging prospects resulting from these efforts and the commitments made by all Ivorian parties, demands that all Ivorian parties fully comply with their commitments, and underlines that it will monitor with vigilance their full implementation.
“The Security Council reaffirms its conviction that the full implementation of resolution 1572 (2004) is a key element in ensuring that all Ivorian parties commit themselves fully to the implementation of the peace and national reconciliation process in Côte d’Ivoire, and deplores the fact that the signatories of the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra III Agreements have not implemented by 15 December 2004 all their commitments under the Accra III Agreement.
“The Security Council underlines that any failure by any Ivorian party to respect their commitments made to President Mbeki would constitute a threat to the implementation of peace and national reconciliation process as defined in the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra III Agreements, and recalls in this regard the measures referred to in paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004).
“The Security Council requests the Committee established by the resolution 1572 (2004) to continue its work, taking fully into account the developments of the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire arising from the facilitation efforts undertaken by the African Union.
“In addition, the Security Council demands that all Ivorian parties stop all incitement to violence and hatred in broadcast, written and other media, and calls upon the Committee to monitor this closely without delay.
“The Security Council also demands that all Ivorian parties ensure freedom of the press and unlimited access to information throughout Côte d’Ivoire.
“The Security Council expresses its intention to consider without delay further steps to ensure the effective monitoring and implementation of the arms embargo imposed by resolution 1572 (2004).
“The Security Council expresses its appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Albert Tevoedjre, for his unsparing efforts to support the restoration of a durable peace in Côte d’Ivoire under challenging circumstances.”
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