S/PV.4959 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Côte d’Ivoire, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council expresses its grave concern at the events that occurred in Côte d’Ivoire at the end of March and at the current impasse in the peace process defined in the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement. “The Security Council underscores the importance of investigating all alleged violations of human rights committed in Côte d’Ivoire so that those responsible do not remain unpunished. “The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the territorial integrity and unity of Côte d’Ivoire. “The Security Council recalls that it endorsed the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, which remains the only possible solution to the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire. “The Security Council further recalls that all Ivorian political forces have committed themselves to implement fully and with no conditions the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement. The Security Council decided, on the basis of this commitment, to deploy the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire to support the process of peaceful settlement of the crisis, which is to culminate in 2005 with the organization of free, fair and transparent elections. “The Security Council emphasizes the individual responsibility of each of the Ivorian actors in the settlement of the crisis. “The Security Council expresses its readiness to consider further steps to encourage full implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and to promote the process of national reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire, including actions that might be taken, if necessary, against individuals whose activities are an obstacle to the full implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2004/12. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.