SG/SM/9507
     AFR/1038
     30 September 2004

Secretary-General Expresses Regret at 'Very Limited Progress' on Legislative Reforms in Côte d'Ivoire

NEW YORK, 29 September (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has noted that the extraordinary session of the National Assembly convened by President Laurent Gbagbo on 11 August 2004 to consider the draft legislation envisaged under the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement ended yesterday. Observing that an important deadline of the Accra III Agreement would not be met, he expressed regret at the very limited progress made during this session in the adoption of legislative reforms that are key to progress in the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire. He once again urged all Ivorian political leaders and parliamentarians to implement fully and in a timely manner all provisions of the Accra III Agreement in the interest of ensuring the restoration of normalcy and stability in Côte d'Ivoire.

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