BAN KI-MOON ENCOURAGES IVORIANS TO CONTINUE MAKING HEADWAY IN PEACE PROCESS

BAN KI-MOON ENCOURAGES IVORIANS TO CONTINUE MAKING HEADWAY IN PEACE PROCESS New York, Apr 24 2008 3:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today met with all the main political actors in Côte d'Ivoire and encouraged them to continue making progress in the West African nation's peace process, as he wrapped up a regional tour that also took him to Burkina Faso, Liberia and Ghana.

Earlier today Mr. Ban held meetings with the Ivorian Foreign Minister, political party leaders, civil society representatives and the President of the Independent Electoral Commission. He later observed the work being done by the UN peacekeeping mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unoci/">UNOCI.

The Secretary-General also presided over the signing of a Code of Good Conduct by the country's political parties for the upcoming elections. After being delayed several times, the presidential polls – which were to be held as far back as 2005 – are now slated for 30 November.

The holding of free and fair elections is one of the provisions of last year's Ouagadougou Peace Agreement, which paved the way for an end to the conflict between the Government-controlled south and the rebel Forces Nouvelles-held north.

Earlier this month, almost half a million Ivorians received new birth certificates, the first step in a process to enable them to vote in the elections.

Yesterday, Mr. Ban met separately with Prime Minister Guillaume Soro and President Laurent Gbagbo. He told reporters he had encouraged the Prime Minister to continue with his efforts to maintain the peace process in collaboration with the President and the other political actors.

Following his meeting with President Gbagbo, the Secretary-General said that he was encouraged that the Côte d'Ivoire Government has cleared all arrears with the World Bank and regained the trust and confidence of international financial institutions.

In addition, Mr. Ban signed an agreement with the Prime Minister and the donor community, in which donors pledged 27 million Euros towards the next phase of the peace process.

The Secretary-General now heads to Vienna, the first stop on a weeklong European visit during which he will also travel to Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
2008-04-24 00:00:00.000

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