sit the farewell meeting on Monday between outgoing UN Special Representative for Cote d'Ivoire, Bert Koenders and Ivorian Prime Minister Kablan Duncan. Mr. Koenders said it was a great privilege to have served the Ivorian government and people for the past 18 months. He expressed optimism about the future of Cote d'Ivoire, pointing out that certain challenges were still to be overcome including security sector reform, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration. Mr. Koenders goes to Mali as head of the new UN Stabilisation Mission in Mali. Le Patriote focuses on Mr. Koenders' call on Ivorians to urgently tackle the root causes of the crisis the country has gone through such as the questions of land ownership, national identity, equal justice and national reconciliation.



L'Inter: Military authorities in Cote d'Ivoire ended a 2-day meeting at Grand Bassam yesterday after working out strategies to ensure the security of people and property especially in the forest zone (west) where many conflicts have been recorded. The security plan is being supported by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).



L'Inter: A defence counsel for former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo says Monday's decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to adjourn the confirmation of charges against his client did not imply that the accused will continue to remain in detention. Gilbert Bitti said Mr. Gbagbo will be in detention for the moment while the request for his release on bail is being processed. Mr. Gbagbo's followers believe he will be released on bail since the investigating chamber of the ICC requested the Prosecutor for additional evidence before it decides to confirm the charges against Mr. Gbagbo.



L'Intelligent d'Abidjan: China has donated CFA 50 million francs (100,000 USD) to the national Commission for Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation (CDVR-French abbr.). Handing the cheque to the CDVR president Charles Konan Banny, the Chinese ambassador called on Ivorians to turn over a new page after the long crisis they suffered.



Le Patriote: The CDVR has begun preparations for national consultations and a body of activities including individual and group discussions to be organised throughout the national territory. CDVR, with support from its partners, initiated a training session in Bondoukou over the weekend for local branches of the CDVR and civil society organisations with a view to setting up its operational plan.