S/PV.6525 Security Council

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1980 (2011). I now give the floor to the representative of Côte d’Ivoire.

My delegation welcomes the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1980 (2011), which reintroduces the embargo on arms imports into Côte d’Ivoire and renews the travel ban and financial freeze imposed on a number of political actors linked to the Ivorian crisis, in accordance with the relevant provisions of preceding Council resolutions on the matter, particularly resolutions 1572 (2004), 1643 (2005), 1946 (2010) and 1975 (2011). We believe that the sanctions regime, extended by one year to 30 April 2012, is necessary in particular to consolidate the end of the state of belligerence in which Côte d’Ivoire has suffered over the past four months. Indeed, like other nations, my country wishes to strive for socio-economic development in a climate of peace and security. We cannot allow those efforts to be undermined by an environment of large-scale illicit arms flows. My delegation also believes that the resolution, which very explicitly urges all illegal armed combatants to lay down their arms, should contribute significantly to the restoration of peace and security in Côte d’Ivoire. Among other things, the resolution encourages the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) to continue to assist the Ivorian Government in collecting and storing arms. My country, for its part, will take all measures necessary to prevent the future distribution of weapons. Of great importance to us is the fact that the concerns of my Government have been taken into consideration with respect to possible exemptions submitted to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) in the context of the vast security sector reform programme. Two weeks after the departure of Mr. Gbagbo from the seat of authority he had usurped following his presidential electoral defeat on 28 November 2010, life in Côte d’Ivoire is slowly but surely returning to normal. The President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, and his Government are currently trying to address urgent matters in order to improve the daily lives of our people. Among his primary concerns is the restoration of public order and security, particularly in the economic capital of Abidjan. Some rapid progress has been seen as the last bastions of insecurity have been eliminated, particularly in Abobo and Yopougon. First, the police stations and gendarmerie brigades have mostly returned to service, although they are suffering significant equipment and logistical shortages. Additional joint patrols with UNOCI forces are of great comfort to the people, who are beginning to circulate freely once again. Secondly, the humanitarian situation is now being managed more effectively. Health care and medicine are being offered free of charge in all hospitals and public health facilities. Humanitarian organizations enjoy greater freedom of movement thanks to gradually improving security and are able more easily to provide assistance to those in need. The disposal of bodies and street-cleaning have been effective in reducing the dangers of epidemics. The displaced are returning to their homes. Water and electricity are now available throughout the country. Thirdly, administrative, economic and social activities have resumed. All ministries and principal State services have returned to work. All the major banks are running and open to the public, particularly in order to pay salaries for March and April. Public transportation is running normally and most businesses have reopened. With respect to school, classes are slowly resuming and teachers are busy assessing their facilities following the looting of classrooms, and are organizing the resumption of courses. In addition to these immediate priority challenges, the most important for the President of the Republic, his Government and the entire Ivorian people to address is that of national reconciliation. Indeed, given the deep damage to the social fabric and national cohesion wrought by 10 years of political and military crises in our country — with all the concomitant misunderstandings, divisions, intolerance, unjustified hatreds, indiscriminate violence, grief and trauma suffered to various degrees by every Ivorian family — it is unthinkable that national reconstruction can be reliably achieved without ownership of that noble task by all sons and daughters of Côte d’Ivoire working together in solidarity. President Ouattara, mindful of all that is at stake, has decided to establish in the coming weeks a truth and reconciliation commission modeled on that created by President Mandela in South Africa following the fall of apartheid. In fact, President Ouattara believes that the reconciliation so devoutly desired in Côte d’Ivoire will require the truth surrounding all the crimes and atrocities that have been perpetrated. In addition, justice must be rendered to the victims and their relatives so as to prevent impunity. Only then will forgiveness play a role and lead to the necessary reconciliation among ourselves. The establishment in the near future of a broad- based Government that includes all political forces and members of civil society also reflects this will to achieve national reconciliation. Any reconciliation is a process; the reconciliation that we in Côte d’Ivoire hope for is no different. But I would say that our process is part of the emergence of democracy in our country, wherein the Ivorian people have chosen a new President after a free, fair and transparent election. National reconciliation, no doubt, will lay a solid foundation to allow the rule of law to take root in Ivorian society. That is, at any rate, the desire of the Ivorian people and the will of President Alassane Ouattara, who will spare no effort to achieve this. In conclusion, I would like to express my Government’s satisfaction at being able to soon welcome in Côte d’Ivoire a working mission from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. We hope that this visit will provide an opportunity for exchanges allowing us to together take stock of the tremendous challenges that remain to be overcome in the areas of peacebuilding, security, reconstruction and national reconciliation.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.