Security Council Calls For Lists Of All Côte D'ivoire Government And Opposition Armaments
In a move to strengthen international sanctions against Côte d'Ivoire and help with the country's disarmament programme,
the United Nations Security Council today asked the Government and the armed opposition each to submit a detailed list
of their weapons holdings and asked the French Government to pass along any information its forces gather in the West
African country.
By a unanimous vote, the Council approved a resolution calling on the Government of Côte d'Ivoire and the opposition
Forces Nouvelles, specifically their armed forces, to cooperate with the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in
establishing within 45 days "a comprehensive list of armaments in the possession of these armed forces and in possession
of paramilitary troops and militias associated with them, as well as their location."
In particular, the Council, acting under the <"http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/chapter7.htm">UN Charter's Chapter VII on international peace and security, sought information on "aircraft and their armament of
any kind, missiles, explosive devices, artillery of any calibre, including anti-aircraft artillery, and armoured and
non-armoured vehicles."
These lists would help <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/index.html
">UNOCI to assist in regrouping all the Ivorian forces and in implementing the national programme for the
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of former combatants in accordance with a resolution passed last
year.
It asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the French Government to tell the Security Council committee on Côte
d'Ivoire about any information gathered by UNOCI and, when possible, reviewed by an appointed three-person expert group,
concerning any supply of arms to the country and any hindrance met in monitoring implementation of the resolution or in
collecting weapons.
The Council also asked the French Government to pass on to the sanctions committee information reviewed in the same way
after being gathered by the French Licorne forces, which the Council authorized to support the UNOCI peacekeeping
troops.
The Group of Experts should be appointed within 30 days of the approval of the resolution and, within 90 days of its
establishment, should report to the Council, through the Council committee, on the implementation of the sanctions, the
resolution said.
The Council also expressed "its grave concern at the use of mercenaries by both Ivorian parties and (urged) both sides
immediately to desist from this practice."