UN to continue supporting Ivorian peace process: Ban's representative
15/10/2008 17:35
The United Nations will continue to support Cote d'Ivoire's peace process
and help to hold a fair, democratic and transparent presidential election in the
West African country, said a UN official yesterday.
The pledge was made by
Choi Young-jin, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special representative to
Cote d'Ivoire, after he met with President Laurent Gbagbo.
The peace process,
which is irreversible, has made remarkable progress, said Choi.
The UN
mission in Cote d'Ivoire is ready to offer security and logistic support
whenever the situation requires for the upcoming voting scheduled for Nov. 30,
he said.
However, problems and obstacles still remain, said the UN
official.
A Civil war erupted in Cote d'Ivoire in September 2002 following a
failed political coup. The war ended with the country split between a rebel-held
north and a government-controlled south.
The presidential election, due since
October 2005, has had to be repeatedly postponed as rival political forces rowed
over issues concerning demilitarization and verification of citizens'
identity
A peace agreement was signed between the government and rebels in
Quagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 2007, under which rebel leader Guillaume Soro was
appointed prime minister.
In April this year, the parties concerned agreed to
hold the presidential election on Nov. 30.
Xinhua
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