Abidjan, 5 July 2013...."It is a great privilege and honour for me to set foot on the soil of this great country, Cote d'Ivoire," Mrs. Aichatou Mindaoudou, the new Special Representative of UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Cote d'Ivoire declared on Friday 5 July 2013 on arrival at the Felix Houphouet Boigny airport in Abidjan.



Mrs. Mindaoudou who assumes office today as head of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) encouraged all the active forces of the Ivorian nation including the women to continue to deploy their efforts toward the consolidation of peace, stability and the development of Cote d'Ivoire.



The new SRSG appreciated the considerable UN support to Cote d'Ivoire and especially the efforts of her predecessor, Bert Koenders.



"I would like to seize this opportunity to express my determination, and that of UNOCI and the entire UN family to continue to support all the actors in their efforts towards reconciliation and a lasting peace in Cote d'Ivoire," she added.



The Special Representative reiterated the commitment of UNOCI to continue its cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the international community in order to promote a stable Cote d'Ivoire that is firmly rooted in democracy and sustainable development.