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First, I would like to join others in conveying our warm sentiments of
friendship and best wishes to Ambassador Greenstock. His contribution to the
deliberations of the Security Council was no doubt valuable and will be long
remembered. I am sure that his many outstanding qualities will be an asset in
his new assignment.
It is also my pleasure to join others in welcoming Prime Minister Seydou Diarra
and his delegation to today’s public meeting. Let me also thank the Spanish
presidency for convening this meeting. It testifies to the continued and
sustained attention that the Security Council gives to the situation in Côte
d’Ivoire.
The visit to the United Nations of Prime Minister Diarra comes in the wake of
the recent mission of the Security Council to the West African sub-region, among
whose main destinations was Abidjan. Earlier, in April, the Security Council
discussed the situation in Côte d’Ivoire in a public meeting, with the
participation of a high-level ministerial delegation from the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS).
Côte d’Ivoire has a clear road map to peace in the form of the Linas-Marcoussis
Agreement. The people of Côte d’Ivoire have courageously and wisely opted for
that path. The success of the peace process hinges on the faithful
implementation of that agreement. That is also the mandate of the Government of
national reconciliation. We thank the Prime Minister for his briefing today,
which outlined the significant progress made in the implementation of the
Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, as well as some key areas in which work remains to
be accomplished.
We support the Council’s action. We encourage the authorities and all parties in
Côte d’Ivoire to work towards full implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis
Agreement. We hope that the people of Côte d’Ivoire will be able to achieve the
desired objectives of peace and stability in the spirit of national
reconciliation. In that regard, we laud the efforts being made by the Government
of Côte d’Ivoire.
Côte d’Ivoire has withstood the turmoil that accompanied the unfortunate
developments that, one after the other, struck the country since September last
year. However, the crisis is not yet over. A lot of damage has been done in all
spheres of national life: political, security, economic, social and human
rights. Beyond national frontiers, the subregion as a whole has suffered the
negative fallout of the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire. Therefore, the need and urgency
of remedying the situation is felt by all. Côte d’Ivoire is fortunate that in
its hour of crisis, it has been the beneficiary of timely assistance and support
at various levels: bilateral, regional and international. We appreciate the role
played by France and ECOWAS in stabilizing the situation there. The United
Nations is also actively engaged in the peace process through the United Nations
Mission in Côte d’Ivoire (MINUCI) and the Special Representative, Mr. Tevoedjre,
who is present here. His personal efforts merit special mention. Apart from the
political process, the challenge of economic rehabilitation and reconstruction
requires the continued support of the international community. Pakistan joins
the appeal to the donor community for adequate contributions in that regard.
One central conclusion that emerges from the consideration of conflict
situations in Africa and elsewhere is the need for parallel progress on several
interrelated tracks: credible security, developing consensus solutions,
humanitarian relief for suffering people, provision of justice and economic
revival including through adequate economic assistance. Addressing those complex
issues should be the responsibility not only of the Security Council but of all
organs of the United Nations — perhaps through the mechanism of composite
committees, which our delegation has suggested on previous occasions.