Concern at humanitarian situation in Côte d’Ivoire

Security Council members stress concern at humanitarian situation in Côte d’Ivoire

While welcoming recent progress in the implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis peace accord for Côte d’Ivoire, members of the United Nations Security Council today stressed again their concern at the humanitarian situation in the country.

The Council’s President for the month of June, Ambassador Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation, said in a press statement that members expressed satisfaction at the presentation to the National Assembly, by the Prime Minister, of a draft programme for implementing the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.

“They also welcomed the start of discussions between FANCI and Forces nouvelles on arrangements for disarmament,” Ambassador Lavrov said. “They called on the parties to continue to take the Linas-Marcoussis process forward, in particular by appointing Ministers for Defence, Interior and Women Affairs. They reaffirmed their full support for the Monitoring Committee and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.”

Ambassador Lavrov noted that Council members were briefed on the visit made by the Monitoring Committee to the western part of Côte d’Ivoire on 26 May, and received an update by France on the activities of its troops. “They welcomed the successful implementation, in particular in the west, of the complete ceasefire reached on 3 May,” he said. “They renewed their appreciation for the support provided by French and ECOWAS forces in this operation, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1464 and 1479. They urged Member States to provide additional logistical and financial support to ECOWAS.”

The Council President also noted that members stressed again their concern at the humanitarian situation in Côte d’Ivoire. “They expressed particular concern at the situation of Liberian refugees who had recently crossed the border into Côte d’Ivoire,” he said, adding that they called on Member States to respond to the appeal launched by UN agencies and urged the parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

“Members of the Council looked forward to the opportunity to emphasize these points directly to the Ivoirian parties during their mission to West Africa at the end of June, beginning of July,” Ambassador Lavrov said.

Earlier Tuesday, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hédi Annabi, briefed Council members on the latest developments in Côte d’Ivoire and on progress made towards establishing the UN Mission there (MINUCI).

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