Abidjan, 19 May 2011... The Chief of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy, arrived in Abidjan on Thursday to attend the inauguration of President Alassane Ouattara, to be held on Saturday, 21 May 2011 in Yamoussoukro.

Mr. Le Roy, who is part of the delegation of the United Nations Secretary-General, met with the Diplomatic Corps at UNOCI headquarters and explained that he had also come to see how to organize the future mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

"The Security Council," said Mr. Le Roy, "must decide on UNOCI's future mandate in June. We sent an assessment mission a few days ago to make proposals. We intend to finalise our report on the future orientations of UNOCI's mandate before 30 June".

The Chief of Peacekeeping Operations said that his meeting with the diplomats was part of a series of encounters he intended to have with all the actors in the Ivorian political scene to discuss UNOCI's new mandate.

"It was therefore important for me to seek the opinion of members of the diplomatic community. I am also going to ask the Ivorian authorities what role they would like UNOCI to play in the country," he added.

Mr. Le Roy also said that the diplomats were satisfied with UNOCI's work, adding that the UN Secretary-General will be coming to Abidjan on Saturday, 21 May 2011, to thank UNOCI personnel for the work they accomplished during a difficult period.