SC/8532
24 October 2005
Security Council Demands that All Ivorian Signatories, Concerned Parties Comply Immediately with Terms of Peace Agreements Already Signed
Resolution 1633 (2005) Seeks Appointment of New Prime Minister, Supports Establishment of International Working Group
NEW YORK, 21 October (UN Headquarters) -- Expressing its serious concern over the deteriorating situation in Côte d'Ivoire, the Security Council this morning demanded the immediate implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis, Accra III and Pretoria peace agreements by the signatories to those accords, as well as all the Ivorian parties concerned.
By its unanimous adoption of resolution 1633 (2005) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council demanded also that the Forces nouvelles proceed immediately with the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme so as to facilitate the restoration of State authority throughout the national territory, the country's reunification and the organization of elections as soon as possible. It demanded also the immediate disarmament and dismantling of militias throughout the territory.
Demanding also that the Ivorian parties refrain from any use of force and violence, including against civilians and foreigners, and from all disruptive street protests, the Council urged neighbouring countries to prevent any cross-border movement of combatants or arms into Côte d'Ivoire. It reiterated its serious concern at all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and urged the Ivorian authorities to investigate those violations without delay in order to put an end to impunity. The Council demanded further that all Ivorian parties stop all incitement to hatred and violence in radio and television broadcasting, as well as in any other media.
Condemning the serious attacks against personnel of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the obstacles to the free movement of the Operation and the French forces, the Council demanded that all the parties cooperate fully in their operations, in particular by guaranteeing the safety, security and freedom of movement of those and associated personnel throughout the national territory. It affirmed that any obstacle to free movement or to the full implementation of their mandate would not be tolerated.
Recalling its presidential statement of 14 October 2005 (document S/PRST/2005/49) and its decisions under resolution 1609 of 24 June 2005, the Council expressed its intention to review the troop level of UNOCI by the end of its mandate on 24 January 2006, in light of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire. The Council also reaffirmed its readiness to impose measures provided for under resolution 1572 of 15 November 2004 against any person blocking implementation of the peace process or who was determined to be responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, or who publicly incited hatred and violence, or who was determined to have violated the arms embargo against Côte d'Ivoire.
The Council expressed its support for the establishment of an International Working Group at the ministerial level, which it requested to draw up a road map in consultation with all Ivorian parties with a view to holding free, fair and transparent elections no later than 31 October 2006. It urged the Chairman of the African Union, the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union Mediator to ensure that a new Prime Minister acceptable to all the signatories of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement would be appointed by 31 October 2005. The Council stressed that the Prime Minister must have all the necessary powers to ensure the effective functioning of the Government, and guarantee security and the redeployment of the administration and public services throughout the national territory.
Commending the continuing role of the African Union and ECOWAS, the Council urged the principals of both organizations to consult immediately with the Ivorian parties to facilitate the appointment of the Prime Minister. It stressed the importance of having all ministers participate fully in the Government of National Reconciliation. In the case of non-compliance by a minister, his or her portfolio should be assumed by the Prime Minister under the supervision of the International Working Group, which should monitor, evaluate and follow up closely on progress towards elections.
The January 2003 Linas-Marcoussis Agreement halted fighting between the Government of President Laurent Gbagbo and rebels controlling most of northern Côte d'Ivoire. It led to a ceasefire between the Government and the Forces nouvelles that took effect on 3 May 2003, as well as the creation of the Government of National Reconciliation. The Pretoria Agreement of 6 April 2004, mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the African Union, established a new plan for the peaceful resolution to the Ivorian crisis. A third accord, reached in the Ghanaian capital on 30 July 2004 and known as the Accra III Agreement, focused on those parts of Linas-Marcoussis that remained in dispute. Lack of progress in those areas and continuing ceasefire and human rights violations caused the one-year delay of the Ivorian elections.
Today's meeting began at 11:17 a.m. and concluded at 11:21 a.m.
Council Resolution
The full text of resolution 1633 (2005) reads, as follows:
"The Security Council,
"Recalling its previous resolutions and statements of its President relating to the situation in Côte d'Ivoire,
"Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of Côte d'Ivoire, and recalling the importance of the principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference and regional cooperation,
"Recalling that it endorsed the Agreement signed by the Ivorian political forces in Linas-Marcoussis on 24 January 2003 (S/2003/99) (the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement) approved by the Conference of Heads of State on Côte d'Ivoire, held in Paris on 25 and 26 January 2003, the Agreement signed in Accra on 30 July 2004 (the Accra III Agreement) and the Agreement signed in Pretoria on 6 April 2005 (the Pretoria Agreement),
"Reaffirming that the Linas-Marcoussis, Accra III and Pretoria Agreements remain the appropriate framework for the peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire,
"Having taken note of the decision of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union adopted at its 40th meeting at the level of the Heads of State and Government held on 6 October 2005 in Addis Ababa ("the decision of the Peace and Security Council") (S/2005/639),
"Having taken note also of the creation of an International Working Group at ministerial level ("the International Working Group") and of a day-to-day mediation undertaken by representatives of the international working group ("the Mediation Group"),
"Having heard on 13 October 2005 a briefing by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union on behalf of the African Union, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the High Representative for elections,
"Expressing its serious concern at the persistence of the crisis and the deterioration of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire,
"Reiterating its firm condemnation of all violations of human rights in Côte d'Ivoire,
"Determining that the situation in Côte d'Ivoire continues to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region,
"Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
"1. Commends the continued efforts of the African Union, in particular President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Chair of the African Union, and President Thabo Mbeki of the Republic of South Africa, Mediator of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the leaders of the region to promote peace and stability in Côte d'Ivoire, and reiterates its full support for them;
"2. Commends also the constant efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Pierre Schori, and of the High Representative for the elections, Mr. Antonio Monteiro, and reiterates its full support for them, including for the arbitration and certification role of the High Representative for elections;
"3. Reaffirms its endorsement of the observation of ECOWAS and of the Peace and Security Council on the end of the mandate of President Laurent Gbagbo on 30 October 2005 and the impossibility of organizing presidential elections on the scheduled date, and of the decision of the Peace and Security Council, including its decision on the fact that President Gbagbo shall remain Head of State from 31 October 2005 for a period not exceeding 12 months, and demands that all the parties signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis, Accra III and Pretoria Agreements, as well as all the Ivorian parties concerned, implement it fully and without delay;
"4. Supports the establishment of the International Working Group at a ministerial level and the Mediation Group, which should both be co-chaired by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, urges the international working group to meet as soon as possible, and affirms that the secretariat of the international working group shall be coordinated by the United Nations, in accordance with paragraph 10, article (vi), of the decision of the Peace and Security Council;
"5. Urges the Chairperson of the African Union, the Chairperson of ECOWAS and the African Union Mediator to consult immediately with all the Ivorian parties in order to ensure that a new Prime Minister acceptable to all the Ivorian parties signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement shall be appointed by 31 October 2005, in accordance with paragraph 10, article (ii) of the decision of the Peace and Security Council, and to maintain close contact with the Secretary-General throughout the process;
"6. Expresses its full support for paragraph 10, article (iii), of the decision of the Peace and Security Council which stresses that the Ministers shall be accountable to the Prime Minister who shall have full authority over his or her cabinet;
"7. Reiterates the importance of having all ministers to participate fully in the Government of National Reconciliation as underscored in the statement by its president dated 25 May 2004 (S/PRST/2004/17), considers therefore that, when a minister is not participating fully in the Government of National Reconciliation, his or her portfolio should be assumed by the Prime Minister, and requests the International Working Group to monitor closely the situation in this regard;
"8. Stresses that the Prime Minister must have all the necessary powers according to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and all the governmental financial, material and human resources, particularly with regard to security, defence and electoral matters, to ensure the effective functioning of the Government, to guarantee security and the redeployment of the administration and public services throughout the territory of Côte d'Ivoire, to lead the programme of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and the operations of disarmament and dismantling of militias, and to ensure the fairness of the identification process and of voter registration, leading to the organization of free, open, fair and transparent elections, with the support of the United Nations;
"9. Calls upon all Ivorian parties to ensure that the Prime Minister has all powers and resources described in paragraph 8 above and faces no hindrance or difficulty in implementing his tasks;
"10. Requests the International Working Group, on the basis of paragraph 10, articles (iii) and (v), of the decision of the Peace and Security Council, to verify that the Prime Minister has all the necessary powers and resources described in paragraph 8 above and immediately to report to the Security Council any hindrance or difficulty which the Prime Minister may face in implementing his tasks and to identify those responsible;
"11. Invites the International Working Group, noting that the mandate of the National Assembly will end by 16 December 2005, to consult with all the Ivorian parties, in liaison as appropriate with the Forum for National Dialogue as referred to in paragraph 11 of the decision of the Peace and Security Council, with a view to ensure that the Ivorian institutions function normally until the holding of the elections in Côte d'Ivoire, and to keep the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union informed in that regard;
"12. Considers, as noted by the Peace and Security Council in paragraph 9 of its decision, that additional measures are required to expedite the implementation of some provisions of the Linas-Marcoussis, Accra III and Pretoria Agreements, in particular the DDR process, the dismantling and disarmament of militias and the creation of conditions for holding free, fair, open and transparent elections, including the identification process and the registration of voters;
"13. Requests therefore the International Working Group to draw up as soon as possible a road map in consultation with all Ivorian parties, with a view to hold free, fair, open and transparent elections as soon as possible and no later than 31 October 2006, concerning in particular:
(a) The appointment of a new Prime Minister as provided for in paragraph 5 above;
(b) The implementation of all outstanding issues as referred to in paragraph 12 above, recalling in this regard that the concomitant implementation of the identification process and of the cantonment of the forces, as provided for in the national programme for disarmament, demobilization, reinsertion and rehabilitation signed in Yamoussoukro on 14 May 2005, would expedite the creation of conditions for holding free, fair, open and transparent elections;
"14. Demands that the Forces nouvelles proceed without delay with the DDR programme in order to facilitate the restoration of the authority of the State throughout the national territory, the reunification of the country and the organization of the elections as soon as possible;
"15. Affirms that the identification process must also start without delay;
"16. Demands that all Ivorian parties stop all incitement to hatred and violence in radio and television broadcasting, as well as in any other media;
"17. Demands also the immediate disarmament and dismantling of militias throughout the national territory;
"18. Recalls paragraphs 5 and 7 of the decision of the Peace and Security Council, and demands that all Ivorian parties refrain from any use of force and violence, including against civilians, and foreigners, and from all kinds of disruptive street protests;
"19. Urges countries neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire to prevent any cross-border movement of combatants or arms into Côte d'Ivoire;
"20. Reiterates its serious concern at all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Côte d'Ivoire, and urges the Ivorian authorities to investigate these violations without delay in order to put an end to impunity;
"21. Condemns the serious attacks against the personnel of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the unacceptable obstacles to the freedom of movement of UNOCI and French forces, demands that all Ivorian parties cooperate fully in their operations, in particular by guaranteeing the safety, security and freedom of movement of their personnel, as well as associated personnel, throughout the territory of Côte d'Ivoire, and affirms that any obstacle to their freedom of movement or to the full implementation of their mandates would not be tolerated;
"22. Takes note of paragraph 13 of the decision of the Peace and Security Council, recalls the statement of its President dated 14 October 2005 (S/PRST/2005/49) and its decisions under resolution 1609 (2005) of 24 June 2005, including paragraphs 4, 5 and 6, and expresses its intention to review the troop level of UNOCI by the end of UNOCI's mandate on 24 January 2006, in the light of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire;
"23. Recalls paragraph 12 of the decision of the Peace and Security Council and its support for the individual measures provided for in paragraphs 9 and 11 of resolution 1572 (2004) of 15 November 2004, and reaffirms its readiness to impose those measures against any person who blocks the implementation of the peace process, as defined in particular by the road map mentioned in paragraph 13 above, who is determined as responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Côte d'Ivoire, who incites publicly hatred and violence, or against any person or entity who is determined to be in violation of the arms embargo;
"24. Urges the International Working Group, which shall receive regular reports from the Mediation Group, and the sanctions committee established by resolution 1572 (2004) of 15 November 2004 to evaluate, monitor and follow up closely the progress made with regard to the issues mentioned in paragraphs 14 to 18 above;
"25. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."
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