Decision on the Situation in Cote D'Ivoire

DECISION ON THE SITUATION IN COTE D’IVOIRE

The Executive Council:

1. EXPRESSES deep concern at the serious events that took place in January 2006 in Cote d’Ivoire and particularly REGRETS the deaths of civilians and damage to property that occurred during those events;

2. NOTES WITH CONCERN that the recurrence of such serious events can only undermine the sustained efforts made by the African Union, ECOWAS, the United Nations and the international community at large, in support of the peace process;

3. CONDEMNS in the strongest terms the acts of violence that were directed against ONUCI and its assets, as well as other acts of violence and intimidation.

4. REQUESTS all concerned parties to refrain immediately from all acts of violence, issuance of inflammatory statements and other actions that may further aggravate the situation and to commit themselves in earnest to the peace process and to create conditions propitious to the attainment of a lasting peace and reconciliation;

5. REITERATES its full support to the efforts exerted by the International Working Group (IWG) and the day-to-day Mediation, as well as by the United Nations;

6. APPEALS to all parties to extend full cooperation to ONUCI, the IWG and the day-to-day Mediation in order to facilitate the full and effective implementation of all Agreements reached as well as the United Nations Security Council resolution 1633;

7. COMMENDS the efforts made by H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa an AU Mediator, and H.E. Mamadou Tandja, President of the Republic of Niger and Current Chairperson of ECOWAS, to assist the Ivorian parties overcome the difficulties encountered in the peace process;

8. WELCOMES the visit of President Olusegun Obasanjo, in January 2006, to Cote d’Ivoire to help defuse the tension that arose recently;

9. ENCOURAGES the Ivorian parties and the people of Cote d’Ivoire in general, to persevere in their efforts aimed at seeking lasting solution to the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue with the support of the international community.