SG/SM/9106
                                                                                                                  AFR/806
8 January 2004

Secretary-General Welcomes Return of Forces Nouvelles to Côte d’Ivoire Government

NEW YORK, 7 January (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the participation yesterday of the Forces Nouvelles in the meeting of the Côte d’Ivoire Council of Ministers, for the first time since that group suspended its participation in the Government of National Reconciliation in September 2003.  The Secretary-General hopes that the return of the Forces Nouvelles to the Government will give fresh impetus to the peace process.  He urges all Ivorian parties to abide by their commitment to implement the Government’s work programme and the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement until the elections scheduled to be held in late 2005.

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