The UN
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, seized the opportunity during his trip to Côte
d'Ivoire to visit IDPs at the Union of the Evangelic churches service and works
in Côte d'Ivoire.

"I came to
give you hope"

Fraternité
Matin –
After the investiture ceremony for President Alassane Ouattara which he attended
on Saturday on Yamoussoukro, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, yesterday
visited IDPs at the Union of the Evangelical Churches Service and Work in Côte
d'Ivoire (UEESO-CI) in the neighbourhood of Cité des Arts in Cocody, a few hours
before leaving Abidjan. He said he came to express the United Nations'
solidarity and compassion. Ban Ki-Moon also said he was very sad that they went
through painful events. "Many people lost their home or members of their family.
You witnessed terrible events I am very sorry. I want you to know I share your
sorrow. I am here to express my solidarity and give you hope regarding the quick
and definitive return to peace", he said. He then recalled the United Nations'
contribution to the assistance to IDPs living on the site, especially drinking
water, medicines, food, shelter, cleaning service and other essential services.
(...) "I also know you want to return home as soon as possible. But let me tell
you that no one can force you to return if you are not ready.
It is
a basic principle in international law. (...)".
The UN
Secretary-General also asked the victims not to lose hope; because Côte d'Ivoire
is making a new start. It has a new President supported by the people and the
whole international community. "The United Nations supported you during the
recent crisis; we will stay until you reconstruct your country". (...)

 

The UN
Secretary-General talks with President Ouattara after the investiture ceremony

Le Mandat –
The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, on Saturday 21 May 2011 participated in
the investiture ceremony for Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in
Yamoussoukro. Having arrived the very day in the political capital and leading a
high-level delegation, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon held a fifteen-minute meeting with the
Ivorian President. Earlier, speaking at the investiture ceremony, President
Ouattara expressed "his gratitude to the whole world" which displayed solidarity
to make democracy triumph. In this regard he particularly congratulated the
United Nations' commitment. "The UN used practical resources to reestablish
democracy and lasting peace", he said.
(...)

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon was accompanied by the Chief of Peacekeeping Operations, Alain
Leroy and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the country,
Y J Choi. (...)

 

Licorne and
UNOCI in the air

L'Expression
–
Security was ensured on Saturday in the capital. Licorne and UNOCI carried out
air patrols. The planes of both forces ensured security until the end of the
ceremony.
(...)

 

Investiture
ceremony for the President of the Republic – Plural and efficient security

Le Patriote
(...)
On Saturday the investiture ceremony was held without incident. The security
challenge has been taken up. However no one had the feeling that there were many
security teams including soldiers of different corpses and countries: (...)
firstly, the soldiers of the United Nations in Côte d'Ivoire, the Republican
Forces (FRCI), the police and the gendarmerie. (...)

 

Investiture
ceremony for the President of the Republic in Yamoussoukro: Alassane Ouattara,
the confirmation

Fraternité
Matin –
President
Alassane Ouattara was inaugurated in front of 20 Heads of State and many other
civil and military personalities of the world on Saturday 21 May in
Yamoussoukro. On this occasion he announced major decisions for the nation's
life. "Excellencies, honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen (...) I want to
congratulate President Barack Obama whose frank and sincere support to the
Ivorian people was decisive. I congratulate the commitment of the United
Nations, represented here by its Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, who managed to
reestablish democracy and for its action in establishing lasting peace in our
country. To the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Union I express the Ivorian
people's gratitude for having accompanied Côte d'Ivoire in its difficult search
for peace. (...) Dear compatriots we need today to meet and reconstruct our
country. (...) To all the sons and daughters of this country and to all those who
are living here I want to call for reconciliation, reunification and hope. (...)
We plan to complete the effective reunification of our army. We will implement
new programmes of civic education in our schools in order to instil the basic
principles of life into our youths. (...) In the coming days I will form a
government of unity reuniting all the political forces in our country and civil
society. (...)"

 

Alassane Ouattara – « Soro will remain Prime Minister »

Le
Jour – After his
inauguration on Saturday, the President of the Republic gave an interview to
France 24 in which he mentioned among others the name of his future prime
minister.

In
your speech on Saturday, you had mentioned the name of your Prime Minister. Does
that mean that the page of Soro is definitely turned?

No,
not at all! Guillaume Soro is an Ivorian. I can also say he does an excellent
job. He will be reappointed as Prime Minister and Defence Minister. I need an
agreement with President Bédié to appoint him.

He
could be your successor?

Listen, ask him the question. (...)

 

Côte d'Ivoire– Nicolas Sarkozy talks about his support to a candidate, the
intervention of the Licorne Forces, the future cooperation.

L'Intelligent d'Abidjan
– (...) "I know what you have lived through for four long months: the concern over
a crisis that has dragged on, the anguish of parents who fear for the safety of
their children, the anguish of businessmen, already deeply marked by the trauma
of 2004; anxiety when looters knocked at your doors, or when the fighting raged,
sometimes right next to you," Nicolas Sarkozy said during his intervention in
Yamoussoukro. Concerning the action of France Mr. Sarkozy said that he decided
to support democracy and the efforts of the international community, and the
respect of their commitments. (...) "France had no candidate. It decided to
choose the candidate of the people. "(...) Mr. Sarkozy also said that his
country will contribute to the reform of the Ivorian army. Then France will
shortly start negotiations for a new defence agreement which will be made
​​public
and will define the modalities of renewed military cooperation. However, he said
that "The French army is not in Cote d'Ivoire to ensure the security of a
government. France intends to support Côte d'Ivoire and establish with it a new
relationship, uncomplicated and balanced".

 

 

Sarkozy promises two billion Euros to Cote d'Ivoire.

Soir Info – French
President Nicolas Sarkozy has
​​promised
to revive the economy of Côte d'Ivoire, during a meeting with French nationals
living in Cote d'Ivoire at French military base of Abidjan. France, according to
president Sarkozy, will help Cote d'Ivoire face challenges in several sectors.
Mr. Sarkozy said that his country will reduce the debt of Cote d'Ivoire, by more
than two billion Euros (about 1.312 billion FCFA)

 

Barroso congratulates Ouattara and promises the support of the EU

Le
Patriote – The
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, congratulated Alassane
Ouattara. (...) "I welcome the fact that you could finally take up the function
that the people entrusted to you through the ballot and wish you every success
in fulfilling your mandate," José Manuel Barroso said in a message to Alassane
Ouattara released in Brussels. (...) The European Commission will continue to
stand by Cote d'Ivoire to meet the challenges that lie ahead" he promised,
noting that the country was "an important partner and a major player for
sub-regional and continental integration".(...)

 

Insecurity - Miaka demands the end of abuses

Notre Voie – Sylvain
Miaka Ouretto, Secretary General of the FPI in Yamoussoukro, hopes that action
will coincide with words. Asked by RFI after the inauguration of Alassane
Ouattara, Miaka pleaded for the improvement of the security throughout the
territory. "We talk of reconciliation but it turns out that many of our
compatriots are living in fear," the party secretary-general of Laurent Gbagbo
said. "This does not happen only in Abidjan, but also in our departments. There
is not a day that goes by without a call saying that a village chief was been
tied up and that for his release, 50.000 francs are needed" he complained

 

Liberia: UNMIL
strengthens border controls and tracks the mercenaries

Fraternité Matin -
(Source AFP) – The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) said on Saturday that it had
strengthened its patrols at the porous borders between Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia
concerned by the return of armed mercenaries from Cote d'Ivoire after the end of
the post electoral conflict. "If people want to cross the border into Liberia,
they must be disarmed," the head of UNMIL, Margret Loj said. She also said that
the nature of the border poses serious problems for the UN forces.