S/PV.7012 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Côte d’Ivoire to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2013/445, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France, Togo, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2013/377, which contains the thirty-second report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2112 (2013). I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make a statement after the vote.

Pakistan fully supports the efforts of the United Nations to achieve peace and stability in Côte d’Ivoire. We have been a major contributor to the United Nations operations in Côte d’Ivoire since 2004. While the report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/377) notes Côte d’Ivoire’s continuing progress on the path to peace, it also underscores the significant threats that still remain. Those include deep political divisions; the presence of networks associated with the former regime whose aim is to destabilize the Government; mercenaries and former combatants along the border with Liberia; weapons proliferation; and slow progress with reconciliation, as well as with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform. The overall security situation in Côte d’Ivoire, particularly along the border with Liberia  — a situation that poses a threat to both countries — is also highlighted. A technical assessment mission led by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations visited Côte d’Ivoire in February to evaluate the need for adjustments in the structure and strength of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI). In the light of the persistent challenges and threats identified by the mission, the Secretary-General has recommended the progressive reduction of two additional battalions by May 2015. We are a little concerned about the accelerated pace of the drawdown of the military component of UNOCI. The recommendations of technical assessment missions and military capability studies, which are based on threat perceptions, security situations and future mission requirements, should be given due weight in Security Council decisions. Côte d’Ivoire is entering an important phase of its stabilization as the country approaches presidential elections in 2015. That requires a cautious approach and careful planning in order to avoid any setbacks or reversals of the gains that have been made. Adopting an accelerated military drawdown may send the wrong signal to those who are planning to undermine the stability of Côte d’Ivoire. I underscore Pakistan’s continuing commitment to contributing to peace and stability in Côte d’Ivoire.

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