General Marcel Fernand
Amoussou, UNOCI with regard to OPA: «There are reasons for hope »

Nord Sud  -
General Marcel Fernand
Amoussou, the Commander of the UN force in Côte d'Ivoire is leaving the country,
very optimistic. During UNOCI's weekly press conference which he hosted, the
senior officer said he had good reasons to hope that the current crisis in the
country, regarding the disarmament issue will be resolved. "There are reasons
for hope. I am convinced that Ivorians do not want to resume war. On the
contrary, they aspire to peace and stability. The latest consultations started
between the parties show that all of Ivorians want to find a solution to the
election-disarmament dilemma. (...)."I believe in Ivorians' capacity to use
dialogue to help the country regain peace very quickly", he said before giving
the following clarification: "The Ouagadougou Agreement has addressed the issue.
This is why UNOCI continues to commit the parties to the complete and total
implementation of the agreements".

UNOCI/ no more useless talk

Le Temps  -
The Force Commander of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI),
General Fernand Amoussou, believes in Ivorians' capacity to use dialogue to help
the country definitely regain peace. This is a serious affair. Just having faith
is not sufficient. UNOCI should not just talk to Ivorians. It has a clear
mission: helping the country regain peace and not just talking. Our leaders
already talk too much.

Events in March 2004 - ADO: "We
have the responsibility to win for those who died"

Le Patriote  -
"In fact, six years ago,
sad and very serious events and which are shameful to the Ivorian nation
occurred in Côte d'Ivoire. I was deeply shattered by these events, and I am
still sad about it. On 24, 25, 26 and 27 March 2004, men and women, most of them
in the prime of life, were killed when they were about to peacefully demonstrate
to demand the implementation of the Marcoussis Agreements, peace agreements,
signed by all of the parties, to resolve the Ivorian crisis. What happened on
these days is unspeakable and unacceptable. Crimes against unarmed citizens who
just wanted to make their opinion known. (...) All of the events which plunged our
country into mourning should be clarified. Those who are behind these events and
the authors should be identified and they should answer for their acts. This is
how we will put an end to impunity which has spread in our country. What is true
of the events that occurred in March 2004 is also true of all of the things that
happened as result in politics for the past ten years. This is the reason for
the RHDP's initiative to contact the United Nations so that the international
courts – namely the International Criminal Court- are informed of the human
rights violations which are occurring in our country. It is an honour for nation
to respect the most sacred of things, namely human life, and guarantee
individual liberties. (...)"

The
crisis-resolution process / Sokoura Bohui: "The contract between Soro and Cote
D'Ivoire is disarmament"

Le Temps  -
The debate on the transparency
of the election and the disarmament is in full swing. On Friday, in an
interview, Sokoura Bohui, a Member of Parliament and the national secretary of
the FPI in charge of the election, challenges the Forces Nouvelles who claim
that the disarmament is not a prerequisite for the presidential election.

Notre Voie:
During their recent press conference, Lawyer Affoussy Bamba, the spokeswoman of
the Forces Nouvelles said that disarmament is not a prerequisite to disarmament.
What is your response?

Martin Sokoura Bohui:
It is surprising and unfortunate to hear such comments from a partner in the
peace process. If such statements were made by the RHDP which did not sign the
Ouagadougou Political Agreement, although it is involved, we could have
understood... We all know the game of the RHDP. They want to organize a fraudulent
election, precisely because they are a minority. But coming from the Forces
Nouvelles, which after the Ouagadougou Political Agreement of March 4, 2007, had
given hope to the Ivorians by renouncing war and resolutely taking the path of
peace, these statements are simply insulting. (...) Soro must quickly work to
provide Ivorians with disarmament. The Ivorians have accepted him as Prime
Minister because they want him to offer them disarmament in return. This is the
contract that binds him to Cote D'Ivoire. It is because of the same contract,
the Ivorians have agreed that senior Forces Nouvelles can enter the government.
(...) "