South African mediators have done all they could to defuse the crisis in Ivory Coast and it's now up to Ivorians themselves to implement what is in their constitution to achieve lasting peace, says Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Briefing media today on the country's foreign policy objectives, minister Dlamini Zuma reiterated what Defence Minister Mosioua Lekota told the UN Security Council last month that South Africa can't be the "implementing arm" of the accords agreed by Ivorian leaders.

"The African Union has asked SA to be a mediator and SA has done everything it can to ensure all is in place. It's now up to Ivorians to follow what their Constitution says and implement the agreements," said Dlamini Zuma.

She said President Thabo Mbeki's mediation efforts did not extend "towards the implementation process".

However, South Africa would assist the Ivory Coast with whatever resources to ensure lasting peace in that country, she said.

Through the mediation of President Mbeki, Ivorian leaders have agreed to implement the Pretoria I and II accords signed in South Africa's capital city, where warring parties agreed to end hostilities, and start with disarmament process.

These steps would enable the country to hold elections in October.

However, the world's top cocoa producing country remains divided between the north and the south with UN peacekeepers warding off hostilities between rebels and government forces in a buffer zone.

Dlamini Zuma said Ivorian leaders needed to stick to deadlines and accords.

Referring to other African countries Dlamini Zuma said resources were "urgently needed" to help the reconstruction processes of Burundi, the Democratic Republic Congo and Sudan where the transitional periods are facing challenges.

"In the DRC we have the biggest challenge to amass resources for the period leading up to elections. We are trying to mobilize resources through other partners," said the minister.

Commenting about the swearing in of Burundi' new democratically elected President Pierre Nkurunziza who replaced Domitien Ndayizeye, Dlamini Zuma said "Burundi was a real African success story."

However, she added that just like DRC, Burundi also needed help in its post-conflict reconstruction process.

"We all know the history of the country.. that if there is no proper post-conflict reconstruction programme - help for people who are displaced, no jobs, economy is hardly in place, - Burundi might slip back into problems.

"We need to take advantage of this stage to leapfrog the development," she said.

Dlamini Zuma said further resources were needed to help countries with their socio-economic reconstruction. - BuaNews