Date: 26/04/2005
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: A Pahad: Statement to UN Security Council on behalf of AU Mediation Mission to Cote d'Ivoire
Statement to the Security Council by Mr Aziz Pahad, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, on behalf of the African Union Mediation Mission to Cote d’Ivoire
Allow us to thank you Mr President, for inviting the African Union (AU) Mediation Mission to once again brief the Security Council on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire.
On 28 March 2005, we informed the Security Council about the efforts the AU had undertaken to contribute to the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire. On that occasion, we also informed you that the AU Mediator, President Thabo Mbeki, was to convene an important meeting of the Ivorian leaders in Pretoria on 3 April 2005.
We are happy to report that the meeting took place as scheduled and lasted for three days. Present at the meeting were President Laurent Gbagbo, former President Konan Bedie, former Prime Minister Allassan Ouattara, Secretary General of the Forces Nouvelles, Mr Guillame Soro and Prime Minister Seydou Diarra. All the principals were supported by their senior leaders, advisers and officials.
The outcome of the three-day meeting was the Pretoria Agreement that the Mediator has presented to the Council and requested that it be endorsed and circulated as an official document of the Security Council. Without doubt, the Pretoria Agreement represents new hope for the Ivorian people, who have long been yearning to return to peace and stability in their country and has introduced a new urgency in the implementation of previous undertakings.
The Pretoria meeting was held in a very cordial and relaxed atmosphere. President Mbeki chaired the meeting and actively participated in the discussions. At times the Ivorian leaders used the opportunity to have discussions among themselves on some of the long outstanding and contentious issues. This in itself was a significant achievement since these are parties that have not had the opportunity to exchange views in a long time.
Some key areas addressed by the Pretoria Agreement include:
* The joint declaration of the end of war in which the Ivorian parties that are signatories of the agreement declare their immediate and final cessation of all hostilities in their country
* The disarmament and dismantling of the militia throughout the country
* The disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of the armed formations leading to the creation of one army for the whole of Cote d’Ivoire
* Ensuring security in the area under the New Forces
* The acceptance of a plan for the security of the New Forces’ Ministers of the Government of National Reconciliation
* The parties that are signatories further commit themselves to making amendments to the composition, organisation and function of the Independent Electoral Commission to ensure free, fair and transparent elections by 31 October 2005. The parties requested the Mediator to seek the assistance of the United Nations (UN) in the electoral process
* The agreement recognises the important role of the media, particularly the RTI, and agrees that the programming of the radio and television stations should cover the entire territory of Cote d’Ivoire
* The meeting discussed the finalisation of the adoption of Article 35 of the Ivorian Constitution. In this regard, the Mediator was asked to make a determination on this matter, after consultation with the Chairperson of the AU and the Secretary General of the UN.
The letter setting out the Mediator’s determination on Article 35 has also been presented to the Security Council with the request from the Mediator that its contents also be endorsed and circulated as a document of the Council.
The essence of the determination is that President Gbagbo would, after consulting with the President of the National Assembly and Constitutional Council, use Article 48 of the Constitution, which would allow the Ivorian Constitutional Council to accept the eligibility of the candidates that would be presented by the political parties that were signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.
Once the Mediator communicated the determination to the Ivorian leaders, President Gbagbo engaged the broader Ivorian population in order to enlist their support for the determination. President Mbeki agreed with this approach.
President Gbagbo undertook a series of consultations with among others, the youth groups, trade unions, women’s groups traditional chiefs, members of parliament and the military with a view to discuss the Pretoria Agreement and President Mbeki’s determination. This process has been instructive in that it provided a platform for the airing of different views, something that can benefit the democratic process in Cote d’Ivoire. The central message coming from all these groups is that President Gbagbo should, in the interest of peace, use Article 48 to effect the amendment to the constitution as determined by the Mediator.
It is expected that President Gbagbo will make a statement on Article 35 soon.
Meetings of the Chiefs of Staff
The Chiefs of Staff of FANCI and FAFN met on Thursday, 14 April 2005, as agreed in the Pretoria Agreement. The Prime Minister was accompanied by several Ministers who witnessed the event. A communiqu
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: A Pahad: Statement to UN Security Council on behalf of AU Mediation Mission to Cote d'Ivoire
Statement to the Security Council by Mr Aziz Pahad, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, on behalf of the African Union Mediation Mission to Cote d’Ivoire
Allow us to thank you Mr President, for inviting the African Union (AU) Mediation Mission to once again brief the Security Council on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire.
On 28 March 2005, we informed the Security Council about the efforts the AU had undertaken to contribute to the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire. On that occasion, we also informed you that the AU Mediator, President Thabo Mbeki, was to convene an important meeting of the Ivorian leaders in Pretoria on 3 April 2005.
We are happy to report that the meeting took place as scheduled and lasted for three days. Present at the meeting were President Laurent Gbagbo, former President Konan Bedie, former Prime Minister Allassan Ouattara, Secretary General of the Forces Nouvelles, Mr Guillame Soro and Prime Minister Seydou Diarra. All the principals were supported by their senior leaders, advisers and officials.
The outcome of the three-day meeting was the Pretoria Agreement that the Mediator has presented to the Council and requested that it be endorsed and circulated as an official document of the Security Council. Without doubt, the Pretoria Agreement represents new hope for the Ivorian people, who have long been yearning to return to peace and stability in their country and has introduced a new urgency in the implementation of previous undertakings.
The Pretoria meeting was held in a very cordial and relaxed atmosphere. President Mbeki chaired the meeting and actively participated in the discussions. At times the Ivorian leaders used the opportunity to have discussions among themselves on some of the long outstanding and contentious issues. This in itself was a significant achievement since these are parties that have not had the opportunity to exchange views in a long time.
Some key areas addressed by the Pretoria Agreement include:
* The joint declaration of the end of war in which the Ivorian parties that are signatories of the agreement declare their immediate and final cessation of all hostilities in their country
* The disarmament and dismantling of the militia throughout the country
* The disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of the armed formations leading to the creation of one army for the whole of Cote d’Ivoire
* Ensuring security in the area under the New Forces
* The acceptance of a plan for the security of the New Forces’ Ministers of the Government of National Reconciliation
* The parties that are signatories further commit themselves to making amendments to the composition, organisation and function of the Independent Electoral Commission to ensure free, fair and transparent elections by 31 October 2005. The parties requested the Mediator to seek the assistance of the United Nations (UN) in the electoral process
* The agreement recognises the important role of the media, particularly the RTI, and agrees that the programming of the radio and television stations should cover the entire territory of Cote d’Ivoire
* The meeting discussed the finalisation of the adoption of Article 35 of the Ivorian Constitution. In this regard, the Mediator was asked to make a determination on this matter, after consultation with the Chairperson of the AU and the Secretary General of the UN.
The letter setting out the Mediator’s determination on Article 35 has also been presented to the Security Council with the request from the Mediator that its contents also be endorsed and circulated as a document of the Council.
The essence of the determination is that President Gbagbo would, after consulting with the President of the National Assembly and Constitutional Council, use Article 48 of the Constitution, which would allow the Ivorian Constitutional Council to accept the eligibility of the candidates that would be presented by the political parties that were signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.
Once the Mediator communicated the determination to the Ivorian leaders, President Gbagbo engaged the broader Ivorian population in order to enlist their support for the determination. President Mbeki agreed with this approach.
President Gbagbo undertook a series of consultations with among others, the youth groups, trade unions, women’s groups traditional chiefs, members of parliament and the military with a view to discuss the Pretoria Agreement and President Mbeki’s determination. This process has been instructive in that it provided a platform for the airing of different views, something that can benefit the democratic process in Cote d’Ivoire. The central message coming from all these groups is that President Gbagbo should, in the interest of peace, use Article 48 to effect the amendment to the constitution as determined by the Mediator.
It is expected that President Gbagbo will make a statement on Article 35 soon.
Meetings of the Chiefs of Staff
The Chiefs of Staff of FANCI and FAFN met on Thursday, 14 April 2005, as agreed in the Pretoria Agreement. The Prime Minister was accompanied by several Ministers who witnessed the event. A communiqu
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