Abidjan, 14 June 2011 ......The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Y.J. Choi, held discussions with President Alassane Dramane Ouattara at the presidential palace on Tuesday, 14 June 2011.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Choi said that with the end of the post-electoral crisis, which had been the subject of discussion for several months, the meeting today focused on the post-crisis situation. In this regard, Mr. Choi said that they discussed the restoration of order and security, which he felt was generally good throughout the country except in the west of Côte d'Ivoire. "We talked about national reconciliation for which a chairman of the commission is already known (Charles Konan Banny)," said the chief of UNOCI.

Mr. Choi also said that the discussions also focused on the follow-up to the electoral process, especially the holding of the legislative elections before the end of 2011. "UNOCI has already had three meetings with the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and his commissioners in order to know how the Mission can better assist them in the preparation and organisation of the legislative elections," he added.

The chief of UNOCI also said that he had discussed the relaunching of the economy, to which everything is linked, with President Ouattara. He said that the Mission's perspective on this issue was both fundamentally optimistic and realistic but wanted to have a very clear vision on the national security structure. "President Ouattara assured us that he was going to put in place the necessary measures without delay. Especially in the west, to rectify the security problems here and there. We also talked about how UNOCI can contribute to reducing this temporary deficit".

Mr. Choi said that he raised the possibility of increasing the number of UN troops in the unstable areas in the west in accordance with its means in order to provide urgent help to the prefects who have been posted to these areas. He also expressed the hope that they would be involved in the process. "UNOCI cannot do anything without the commitment of the Prefects. It has to be done with cooperation between the Prefects in the regions and the military and civilian components of the Mission," Mr. Choi explained.