UN says Cote d'Ivoire peace process encounters serious difficulties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 11, 2003

UN says Cote d'Ivoire peace process encounters serious difficulties

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The peace process in Cote d'Ivoire has encountered serious difficulties in the last three months and the fundamental differences between the government and opposition must be urgently addressed if it is to remain on track,United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report on Monday.

Calling for a six-month extension of the UN Mission (MINUCI), which seeks to build confidence between the government forces and the rebels, Annan said he is concerned that nine months after a peace agreement was signed in Linas-Marcoussis, France, some key provisions have yet to be implemented.

"Until they are, the peace process is likely to remain tenuous," he reported, noting that key issues behind the current stalemateinclude differences over the interpretation of the power-sharing concept envisaged in the Linas-Marcoussis accord, and the failure of the government of National Reconciliation to begin restructuring the defense and security forces immediately on taking office, as required by the agreement.

Annan noted that President Laurent Gbagbo's appointment of defense and internal security ministers in September was expected to complete the composition of the new government and remove a keyobstacle to the peace process.

It was made in a way generally viewed as consistent with the accord, he added, but "unfortunately the Forces Nouvelles (the opposition) have rejected the appointments and pulled out of the government, leaving it effectively unable to implement the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement."

He urged the Ivorian leaders to cooperate with the efforts of President John Kufuor of Ghana and other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, which maintains a peacekeeping force in the country, to convene a meeting between President Gbagbo and the signatories of the Linas-Marcoussis accord focused on reaching agreement on the fundamental issues.

There are currently 34 UN military liaison officers in Cote d'Ivoire to monitor security and help build confidence. The UN Mission, which was created in May this year, also includes a civilian component which focuses on the human rights situation andpreparations for the elections to be held in 2005.

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