Abidjan, 19 February 2014...UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet on 19 February 2014 rounded up his working visit to Cote d'Ivoire with a meeting with Ivorian Minister of Justice, Human and Civil Rights, Gnenema Coulibaly. He said the situation in Cote d'Ivoire was evolving and "we must respond to new challenges."



Earlier in the day, Mr. Mulet and his delegation met with representatives of UN agencies in Cote d'Ivoire. "We have had discussions with government authorities, civil society and political parties, so it was also important to have dialogue within the UN house," he said. The senior UN official explained that more than ten years after maintaining two neighbouring missions in Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia (UNOCI and UNMIL), it was time to discuss with government and partners of the country team on the responsibility of each one.



"We are not going to endanger what has been accomplished so far in the areas of security, stability and development in the two countries," he stressed, pointing out that the UN country team must envisage, in the future, the assumption of certain responsibilities presently shouldered by UNOCI and UNMIL.



Mr. Mulet said "legitimate, credible and respectable elections accepted by everyone will determine the future, not only of the country but also the future of relations between Cote d'Ivoire and the international community."



The UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations held discussions with members of the diplomatic community, ambassadors of the five permanent members of the Security Council and the European Union, representatives of regional and sub regional organizations including the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).



Mr. Mulet who was heading a UN delegation which arrived Abidjan on 16 February 2014 from Liberia ended his working visit on 19 February after holding discussions with Ivorian Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan, government authorities, political groupings, civil society, the diplomatic corps and UN agencies in Cote d'Ivoire.