Côte D’ivoire: Annan Welcomes Disarmament Pact, Urges Further Action
New York, May 16 2005 5:00PM
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed a weekend agreement by the Government and armed opposition in
Côte d’Ivoire to undertake a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process (DDR) and called on them to implement
other aspects of the comprehensive accord negotiated by the African Union (AU).
On behalf of Mr. Annan, a UN spokesperson welcomed the accord on the timeframe and modalities for the DDR process in
Cote d'Ivoire, as well as a plan for the restructuring of the armed forces, signed by the Chiefs of Staff of the Ivorian
National Armed Forces (FANCI) and the Forces Nouvelles (FN) on Saturday.
In a statement, Marie Okabe urged them to implement all of their commitments in the time framework in the April
agreement and in cooperation with the UN.
“The Secretary-General also calls on the Ivorian parties to ensure expeditious implementation of the other aspects of
the Pretoria Agreement” negotiated by South African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the AU, she said.
Under the Pretoria Agreement, the signatory parties were to carry out actions that included jointly declaring the end of
war, disarming and dismantling militias throughout the country, creating one army for the whole West African country and
ensuring security for the opposition Forces Nouvelles, especially for its ministers in the Government of National
Reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the peacekeeping UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire said in a statement that the agreement, reached in the
capital, Yamoussoukro, was a major step for the peace process and in the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement. The
mission also offered to support the DDR process.
ENDS