Yamoussoukro, 19 April 2010... A delegation of the United Nations technical assessment Mission, led by Mrs. Nanette Ahmed, held on Sunday 18 April 2010 in Yamoussoukro, a working session with the chief of the Integrated Command Centre (ICC), Colonel Major Kouakou Nicolas, on the activities, difficulties and prospects of the ICC in the crisis-resolution process.

"We had a frank and very open discussion," Mrs. Ahmed, Coordination Officer at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York, said at the end of the meeting.

During the meeting, several questions were addressed, including the lack of resources and logistical difficulties. "We need conventional law enforcement material so that the ICC can fully play its role, which consists of providing security for the election," said Colonel Kouakou. In this regard, he appealed for the total or partial suspension of the embargo on arms in Côte d'Ivoire.

Mrs. Ahmed recalled the procedures required for this. "A written request should be sent directly to the Security Council", she explained.

With regard to the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programme, the Chief of the ICC deplored the slowness in the reintegration of ex-combatants. He said he was expecting a lot from the impartial forces as regards support for the soldiers of the Ivorian army. He also said that he wanted greater coordination of activities between the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), UNOCI and the ICC so as to better respond to security needs.

The ICC team mentioned the good collaboration between UNOCI and the ICC. It welcomed the capacity building provided by UNOCI to the elements of the Forces Armées Nationales de Côte d'Ivoire (FANCI) and the Forces Armées des Forces Nouvelles (FAFN) deployed in the ICC, and for the continuous training provided by the United Nations Police.

Before participating in a lunch offered by the SENBATT, which closed the mission, the delegation visited the camps of UNOCI's military battalion based in Yamoussoukro, the Bangladeshi formed police units, the Pakistani contingent's transport company and the Senegalese battalion.