S/PV.5072 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 consideration of the item on the Council’s agenda. In accordance 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 Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document S/2004/886 containing a letter from the Secretary-General to the President of the Security Council. 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 condemns the attack against French forces in Bouaké on 6 November 2004 that resulted in fatalities and other casualties, as well as the fatal air strikes in the north by the national armed forces of Côte d’Ivoire, as violations of the ceasefire agreement of 3 May 2003. “The Security Council further condemns any effort by any party to send forces through the Zone of Confidence. “The Security Council demands the immediate cessation of all military operations by all Ivoirian parties and full compliance with the ceasefire agreement of 3 May 2003. “The Security Council expresses its full support for the action undertaken by French forces and the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI). “The Security Council confirms that French forces and UNOCI are authorized to use all necessary means to carry out fully their mandate in accordance with its resolution 1528 (2004) of 27 February 2004. It confirms also that UNOCI, within its capabilities and areas of deployment, is authorized to prevent any hostile action, in particular within the Zone of Confidence. “The Security Council strongly recalls the obligations of all Ivoirian parties, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire as well as the Forces Nouvelles, to refrain from any violence against civilians and to cooperate fully with the activities of UNOCI. The Security Council firmly reminds all parties of the need to guarantee the security and freedom of movement of all United Nations personnel. “The Security Council intends to examine rapidly further actions, including individual measures to be taken.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2004/42. The Security Council has thus concluded the present state of its consideration of the item on its agenda.