UN Security Council urges Côte d'Ivoire to form all-inclusive government

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UN Security Council urges Côte d'Ivoire to form all-inclusive government

2011-04-14 04:19:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations Security Council on Wednesday urged President of Côte d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara to form an all-inclusive, broad-based Government to restore peace to the nation.

Ambassador Néstor Osorio of Colombia, which holds the Council's rotating monthly presidency, called on all Ivoirians to abstain from any reprisals, revenge or provocation and to exercise maximum restraint.

Following the surrender of former President Laurent Gbagbo, Ambassador Osorio urged the North African nation to unite in order to "promote national reconciliation and restore sustainable peace through dialogue and consultation."

Gbagbo refused for months to stand down after losing a UN-certified presidential elections that culminated in the November 2010 run-off. The country was plunged into four months of violence that culminated on Monday when Gbagbo surrendered and was taken into custody.

"Critical challenges in Côte d'Ivoire following the surrender of recalcitrant former President Laurent Gbagbo, include restoration of order, prevention of further human rights abuses, national reconciliation and rebuilding and completion of the peace process," said Y. J. Choi, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.

Choi also remarked that despite all the challenges Ivoirians organized impressive elections, resolved the post-election crisis largely by themselves, and allowed the will of the people to prevail.

The Special Representative called for national reconciliation and reconstruction as the ways for restoring peace and stability. Choi, who is also the head of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (ONUCI), assured the support of the international community for this transition.

"Reconciliation will not be accomplished without meaningful accountability, which has been lacking in Côte d'Ivoire over the past decade," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay. "To achieve peace and reconciliation, the cycle of impunity must be stopped, perpetrators must be brought to justice, and victims must be rehabilitated in their rights and dignity."

UN aid officials have estimated that up to 1 million Ivorians have been displaced by the violence, with some internally displaced and others forced to flee into neighboring countries, particularly Liberia which is hosting 135,000 Ivorians.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported that thousands of refugees continue to pour into neighboring countries, with close to 150,000 Ivorian refugees now spread across 12 countries in West Africa.

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