Abidjan, 13 February 2008..... The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, met on Friday with the Ivorian Minister for National Reconciliation and Relations with Institutions, Sébastien Dano Djédjé, to discuss the peace process.

At the end of the meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire, (UNOCI) Mr. Dano Djédjé explained to journalists that he had come to present his New Year greetings to the head of the UN Mission and discuss issues concerning his ministry. According to the Minister, there are similarities between the two bodies with regard to promoting reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire. "We are in complete agreement on several issues and have made a commitment to co-ordinate our activities so that Côte d'Ivoire can derive greater benefits from them," he explained.

He also said that during the discussions, Mr. Choi had expressed his commitment and availability to support the crisis-resolution process.

The Minister also expressed his opinion with regard to the Special Representative's plea to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to publish an electoral timetable as soon as possible in order to keep up the momentum in the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire. He said that he welcomed the demand because it would give everyone the opportunity to know what they have to do. He then asked the IEC to accelerate the process while taking into account the realities on the ground.
"This would make Ivorians more confident with regard to the success of the peace process," said Mr. Dano Djédjé, adding that the process was on track and almost completed because despite some the certainty of its success was perceptible.