UN
envoy warns of Ivory Coast stalemate

By The
Associated Press
- The top U.N. envoy in Ivory Coast is warning that the political
stalemate in Ivory Coast over reunification and elections is contributing to
growing frustration and heightened tensions in the west African nation. Choi
Young-jin told the U.N. Security Council Thursday the reason for the impasse is
that the three major protagonists in the Ivorian crisis are each insisting on
their own "core interest" and claiming that a March 2007 peace deal creating a
unity government and a roadmap for elections supports their demand. President
Laurent Gbagbo's camp wants reunification before elections; the opposition wants
elections before reunification, and the New Forces rebels of Guillaume Soro who
became prime minister in the unity government want identification of voters
before reunification, Choi said.

Ongoing political
impasse hampering Ivorian peace process – UN envoy

UN News
service - The
ongoing political impasse in Côte d'Ivoire contributes to heightened tensions
and hampers efforts to normalize the situation in the West African nation, which
has been trying for eight years to overcome the crisis that split the country, a
senior United Nations official said today.

"This political stalemate is hardly encouraging," Y. J. Choi, the
Secretary-General's Special Representative for Côte d'Ivoire, told the Security
Council as he briefed the 15-member body on the latest developments.

"Indeed, during the eight years since the outbreak of the crisis, perennial
delays in implementing the various peace agreements have been a source of deep
frustration for the Ivorian people as well as the international community," he
stated.

"It is all the more so since the elections appeared to be within our grasp until
several months ago."

Côte d'Ivoire, which became split by civil war in 2002 into a rebel-held north
and Government-controlled south, was making progress toward the holding of
elections – which were supposed to have been held as far back as 2005 but have
been repeatedly postponed.

The country witnessed the publication of the provisional electoral list
throughout the country, the launch of the appeals process, and the validation of
all major candidates for the presidential election.

The political impasse began in early January after the production of the second
electoral list. Political tensions began to mount after voter registration was
suspended due to violence and President Laurent Gbagbo dissolved the Government
and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in February.

Despite the establishment of a new Government and Electoral Commission since
then, the electoral process remains stalled as the differences on how to address
the issue of fraud and resume the interrupted appeals process on the provisional
voters list persists.

"The events of February and March 2010 have demonstrated that the continuing
failure to hold elections in Côte d'Ivoire and materialize the reunification of
the country contributes to heightening tensions and hampers constitutional,
political, economic and social normalization," said Mr. Choi.

He noted that the reason for the impasse is that the three major protagonists of
the crisis are now dealing with their core interest – the presidential camp
wants reunification before elections; the opposition wants elections before
reunification; and the rebel Forces Nouvelles wants identification before
reunification.

As agreed by the parties in 2008, a de facto reunification is to be completed
two months prior to the presidential election.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a recent report, noted that the lack of
progress in resolving the impasse has led some to start questioning the
relevance of the framework of the Ouagadougou Peace Agreements, the 2007
blueprint for political reconciliation forged in the capital of neighbouring
Burkina Faso.

He warned that any unravelling of the Ouagadougou framework would be a cause for
serious concern, noting that there is currently no alternative framework to
these agreements.

Mr. Ban also recommended maintaining the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI)
until the end of the year – with the same current total strength of its military
and police components – "in order to give Côte d'Ivoire a chance to walk the
final mile to the elections with the full support of the United Nations."

If the Council approves such an extension, Mr. Ban also suggested an adjustment
of the mission's mandate to allow it to focus on helping the parties to
implement the remaining priority tasks, including those related to elections,
disarmament and all aspects of the reunification of the country.

Last week the Council extend UNOCI until 30 June, as it continues to consider
possible revisions to the mission's mandate.

Mr. Choi noted that, in the meantime, the mission will maintain three priority
objectives for the immediate future: maintaining peace and stability in the
country, including the protection of civilians; safeguarding past achievements,
in both the elections and reunification domains; and helping to establish the
definitive electoral list as expeditiously as possible.