SECURITY A TOP PRIORITY IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE, SENIOR UN OFFICIAL SAYS ON EVE OF TALKS WITH LIBERIA

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 4 Apr 2013 19:00:00 -0400
Subject: SECURITY A TOP PRIORITY IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE, SENIOR UN OFFICIAL
SAYS ON EVE OF TALKS WITH LIBERIA
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

SECURITY A TOP PRIORITY IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE, SENIOR UN OFFICIAL SAYS ON
EVE OF TALKS WITH LIBERIA
New York, Apr 4 2013 7:00PM
On the eve of a meeting between the United Nations and the Governments
of Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia to address an outbreak of violence on the
border, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official said security
remains a priority in the country, particularly as preparations
continue for upcoming local elections there.

Tomorrow's quadripartite discussion in Monrovia – including the
participation of officials from the neighbouring Governments and
representatives of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and the
UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) - will assist the security of the
region, as well as address the sources of conflict, including return
of refugees and distribution of humanitarian aid, the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Albert
Gerard Koenders, told UN Radio.

UNOCI and UNMIL reinforced their patrols after an attack last month by
armed elements in Petit Guiglo, in Côte d'Ivoire's western region.
Blue helmets have deployed to Petit Guiglo, and are supporting Ivorian
forces and protecting civilians through ground and air patrols.

Security is a primary concern as Ivorians prepare for the 21 April
local polls. A 2010 presidential election, meant to be a culminating
point in the peace process, resulted in months of violence when former
President Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down after losing to Alassane
Ouattara, who finally took office in May 2011.

"If you have elections then tensions will rise," said Mr. Koenders,
who is also the head of UNOCI.

"Our mandate is to assist Ivorian actors to ensure that in all those
different constitutes there are peaceful elections, and also calling
on politicians to remain calm and really have open and free and
transparent elections," Mr. Koenders noted. He added UNOCI also
provides technical support to the polls through support to the
independent electoral commission.

UNOCI has been supporting the reunification and stabilization of the
West African country, split by civil war in 2002. The Security Council
extended its mandate by one year in July 2012, but it is possible that
its responsibilities might be revised when the 15-member body discuss
UNOCI this year.

"We are slowly in a situation of transition in the mission," said Mr.
Koenders, who is at the UN Headquarters this week to discuss the
situation in his region and to defend the proposed Mission budget for
the upcoming year. He depicted UNOCI as focusing on four factors:
security, confidence-building, human rights and job creation.

As a peacekeeping mission, Mr. Koenders said, UNOCI is creating a
"security net" for Ivorians to take over their security with less
assistance from the UN.

The UN is also assisting capacity-building measures to better unify
the army and to create more confidence between the army and the
gendarmerie.

Mr. Koenders noted the Mission's work in support of respect for human
rights and equitable justice, which "requires an investment and
political willingness from Ivorian authorities with support in a
technical way from us." He added that justice must be equitable and
"independent of the political affiliation of those who are suspected
of serious crimes."

To assist the Ivorians, the UN is supporting the Government and
partners to establish "catalytic programmes to create jobs, return of
social service and so on" so that "increasingly the Ivorians see the
dividends."

Economic growth in Cote d'Ivoire is predicted to reach 9 per cent this
year, Mr. Koenders said, "but in many areas it is important the people
see the difference."
Apr 4 2013 7:00PM
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