Abidjan, 8 January 2009.... The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y. J. Choi, had a meeting on the Ivorian peace process with the President of the Rally for Republicans (RDR), Alassane Dramane Ouattara, in Abidjan on Thursday.

"This meeting comes at a very important moment because it has taken place before the Security Council session scheduled for 21 January and after the decision of the Standing Consultative Framework (CPC) on identification and elections, and the signing of the Fourth Ouagadougou complementary agreement," Mr. Choi said at the end of the meeting.

The UNOCI head said the discussions with members of the CPC, which includes the RDR, would contribute to a sharing of vision and analysis, and thereby help in predicting the future. UNOCI aims to gauge how it can better support the peace process, especially in the areas of identification, disarmament, elections and the reunification of the country, he said.

Responding to a question on problems linked to the identification process, Mr. Choi said that despite difficulties here and there, the process could be globally viewed as positive. "Thus far more than three million people have been identified and the identification process will end in a few months," he stated.

He also reaffirmed the international community's commitment to providing logistical, technical and financial support for the identification process.