Abidjan, 13 August 2009...The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, will next week assess the results of the 1000 Microprojects Programme, aimed at ex-combatants, militias, young people at risk and women victims of conflict. This announcement was made in Abidjan on Thursday, during the weekly press conference of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), by its Spokesman, Hamadoun Touré.

Mr. Touré said that the 1000 microprojects caravan would take Mr. Choi to several cities in the interior of the country, namely Bouaké, Séguéla, Daloa, Issia and San Pedro. He recalled that the four-million-dollar 1000 Microprojects Programme, launched in August 2008, was a reintegration pilot initiative financed by United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. "It is part of the support to the Ivorian Government's reintegration programme for ex-combatants and is backed by the Côte d'Ivoire's international partners", Mr. Touré explained. He also said that to date, 3000 people had benefitted from 520 projects throughout the country.

The head of UNOCI will also visit co-ordination centres and cantonment sites for ex-combatants during his mission. "The tour will give him the opportunity to see and measure the progress made in the processing of data from the identification and voter registration operation", said Mr. Touré. The aim of the visit was also, he said, to examine and reinforce UNOCI's support to security provisions for the electoral process and the reunification of the country following requests from the Ivorian Ministries of Defence and the Interior.

Responding to journalists' concerns, the Spokesman explained that with the help of partners discussions have been conducted on security sector reform, whose final objective is the creation of a new army. In this regard, he added that UNOCI and Licorne will provide their military expertise in order to unblock the situation during the so-called four-generals meetings (the two Ivorian forces and the two Impartial Forces) in Yamoussoukro. However, he explained, "the issue of ranks and quotas involves only the Ivorian partners (FDSCI-FAFN)".

Mr. Touré said that UNOCI's support had been demonstrated through the training of 600 security elements (ADS), in accordance with the Pretoria Accord and that the requests made to UNOCI have already started receiving some response, with a donation of mattresses and tents as the Mission's contribution to the deployment of 8000 police and gendarmes throughout Cote d'Ivoire.

He said that UNOCI had studied the arrangements with regard to reinforcing its support since the Mission, which had already rehabilitated the cantonment sites for the ex-combatants, had received further requests. And it was also in connection with this that a logistics mission was recently sent from New York. "Time is against us. Reunification has to be resolved two months before presidential election, in accordance with the Fourth Accord of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement. This is why it is important to redouble our efforts and that is why the Special Representative decided to make this visit", Mr. Touré added. He said that UNOCI had the question of reunification, which includes the extension of state authority throughout the country, at heart.

With regard to the issue of security provisions for the electoral process, Mr. Touré recalled that it consisted of two aspects. The Ivorians, through the Integrated Command Centre (ICC), are in charge of the first aspect, while the second one falls to the Impartial Forces. Mr. Touré said since the military have already prepared a plan to this effect and presented it to the different partners, it was now for the ICC to be made more operational and the Special Representative's visit was in connection with this. "There was a request to lift the embargo on certain types of arms", Mr. Touré explained in response to a question. This request was sent to the relevant body at the United Nations in New York.

On the issue of financing, UNOCI's Spokesman recalled that as confirmed in July 2008 by the Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, the budget allocated to the elections is complete. Appealing to journalists not to mix up the availability of funds and the mechanism for the release of those funds, he recalled that the international community's Basket Fund contained more $50 million reserved for the Ivorian party for the electoral process. "The difficulties with the releasing of funds are certainly linked to procedures that have to be respected before those funds can be released," he said.

Turning to another issue, the Spokesman announced UNOCI's participation in the third edition of the Festival of Dida arts and culture known as Djaka 2009 being held between 12 and 16 August 2009 in Akabia, 25 km from Divo. UNOCI has provided trophies for a football tournament for peace and promotional items for participants. It will also carry out information and sensitization activities on its contribution to the peace process three months before the presidential elections of 29 November 2009, Mr. Touré explained. "UNOCI's participation in the Festival of Dida arts and culture is within the framework of its support to activities which promote a rapid return to peace through social cohesion and national reconciliation," he added.

Mr. Touré also announced the death of Sergeant Gnon Kpakpa, a soldier serving with UNOCI's Togolese battalion (TOGOBATT). The soldier, who died after a short illness, arrived in Côte d'Ivoire on 27 May 2009. He was 42. His death brings to 41 the number of soldiers who have died since UNOCI was deployed in April 2004.