S/PV.7431 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. I wish to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/2015/252, which contains the text of a letter dated 13 April 2015 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) concerning Côte d’Ivoire addressed to the President of the Security Council. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by His Excellency Mr. Christian Barros Melet, Permanent Representative of Chile, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004) concerning Côte d’Ivoire. I now give the floor to Ambassador Barros Melet.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to brief Council members in my capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004), concerning Côte d’Ivoire. I would like to begin by summarizing the main elements contained in the final report (S/2015/252) of the Group of Experts on Côte d’Ivoire established in accordance with resolution 2153 (2014), as well as the discussions that took place in consultations on 10 April. Generally speaking, the Group of Experts noted improved cooperation with the Côte d’Ivoire authorities during the second part of its mandate, which they believe was attributable to the visit of the Chair of the Committee in November 2014. The Government of Côte d’Ivoire has made progress in implementing the arms embargo and providing relevant information on notifications and requests for exemptions addressed to the Committee, as well as in informing the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and the Group of Experts on the arrival of material. The Group expressed its concern about the ongoing presence of elements linked to the radical pro-Gbagbo group, and about the incorrect information that the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire provided to the Committee in some notifications or requests for exemption. It also expressed concern about the material in the possession of the fourth infantry battalion under the command of Martin Kouakou Fofié, who is on the list of persons subject to the sanctions regime, and about the lack of access of the Group and UNOCI to team sites and facilities in accordance with paragraph 22 of resolution 2153 (2014). In its report, the Group stresses the danger posed by the existence of numerous weapons and ammunition that remain in the country without adequate control. Regarding security sector reform (SSR), the Group recognized the progress made by the authorities of Côte d’Ivoire. However, it noted the continuing lack of capacity and equipment for the police and the gendarmerie, especially in view of the presidential elections scheduled for October. The Group also noted the lack of cohesion in the ranks of the army, caused by negative influences from earlier affiliations and old antagonisms, which could hinder the SSR process. Regarding disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), the Group welcomed the efforts of the Authority on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration to plan a more comprehensive and inclusive process of reintegration, and in the marking of weapons held by the security forces. However, the Group emphasized the negative role played by members of the Forces républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire, which are not registered and which have performed illegal activities. The Group also felt that the DDR process would probably be unable to reinstate all veterans by June, which could have a negative impact on security conditions in the country. In relation to border measures and control, the Group expressed concern about the links between former elements of the security and defence forces, the Young Patriots, the Ivorian militias and Liberian mercenaries. Moreover, the military structure and capacity of mercenaries and militias in Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, respectively, would remain intact. The Group of Experts indicates that smuggling between Côte d’Ivoire and neighbouring countries persists, particularly in cacao and gold. The Group also expressed concern about human rights violations, including child labour, and extrajudicial executions in mining areas. On 10 April, the Committee held a meeting to discuss the report of the Group of Experts. The Committee also heard from the Chargé d’affaires of the Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire, Ambassador Ouattara, on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, which included comments on the final report of the Group of Experts. The participation of Ambassador Ouattara deepened the dialogue that was reignited following my visit to the country. Ambassador Ouattara thanked the Committee for taking steps to remove Mr. Djédjé and Mr. N’Guessan from the sanctions list of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004). He also indicated doubts about some of the conclusions reached by the Group. However, Ambassador Ouattara reconfirmed the full commitment of Côte d’Ivoire to cooperating with the Committee and the Group of Experts, especially in view of the forthcoming presidential elections, and expressed the desire of his Government for the sanctions to be removed as soon as possible after that electoral event. He also stressed the positive impact of my visit in November last year, which sent a strong message of cooperation between the Sanctions Committee and Côte d’Ivoire. In the ensuing discussion, members of the Committee acknowledged the progress made by Côte d’Ivoire, but stressed the problems currently being faced, particularly in matters relating to DDR, the fight against impunity and the slow implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. I intend to pursue my communication with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire. I wish to assure Council members that my visit to the country was not an isolated event, but the beginning of a new active and meaningful dialogue that will succeed only if the key stakeholders continue to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the peaceful transition of the country and national reconciliation. Finally, the recommendations contained in the final report of the Expert Group are still being considered by the Committee members.

I thank Ambassador Barros Melet for his briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of Côte d’Ivoire.

I should like at the outset to express the gratitude of the Ivorian Government to the Chairman of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004), Ambassador Cristián Barros Melet, and the members of the Security Council for this opportunity us to discuss the sanctions regime imposed on my country. As in 2014, our task is mainly to assess the effectiveness of these measures and to identify together prospects based on progress. The Ivorian Government is committed to the process of cooperation with the Security Council, the 1572 Committee and its Group of Experts for the implementation of measures arising from resolution 2153 (2014) and others. In this context, we welcome the working visit to Côte d’Ivoire by Ambassador Barros Melet from 2 to 7 November 2014, which, according the Group of Experts, helped to increase the level of cooperation between the Group and the national authorities. I reiterate the continued commitment of the Ivorian Government to full and exemplary cooperation leading, through the work of the experts, to an objective assessment of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire. Ambassador Barros Melet will always be welcome in Côte d’Ivoire. The Ivorian Government notes the findings of the report of the Group of Experts (S/2015/252). The recommendations therein will be the subject of analysis in view of their implementation, taking into account the requirements of security and national defence. The Ivorian Government wishes here to welcome the progress made by Côte d’Ivoire, as identified by the Group of Experts. This includes progress on procedures for transmitting notifications and exemption requests to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1572 (2004), as mandated by resolution 2153 (2014), as noted in paragraph 27 of the report. The Group acknowledges the political commitment of the Ivorian authorities to the security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) processes through the direct involvement of the President of the Republic and and the establishment of a single institutional framework, the National Security Council, by decree in August 2012 to coordinate the planned reforms, as set out in paragraph 50. In that regard, I note that a framework for reflection has been established to identify prospects for the period following 30 June, which is the deadline for completing the DDR process in Côte d’Ivoire. A legal framework has been established for the post-30 June 2015 period that defines, inter alia, the strategy for reforming the security apparatus and the national security strategy. Another area of progress is the marking by the National Commission on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons since October 2012 of all weapons belonging to the the State of Côte d’Ivoire, as indicated in paragraph 83, as well as efforts to rehabilitate and improve the armouries in Côte d’Ivoire. The Group note that, to date, approximately 40 per cent of armouries of the defence and security forces have been rehabilitated, as noted in paragraph 86. As indicatred in paragraph 132, the water and forestry authority, the gendarmerie, the police and the customs administration were present at the borders. In January 2014, the Ivorian Government adopted a plan of action for the eviction of the occupants of Mount Péko, in close collaboration with the Burkina Faso authorities. There are about 30,000 people on Mount Péko, who are mostly citizens of Burkino Faso. We have to keep their humanitarian needs in mind. In terms of progress made by the Ivorian Government, it is also important to note the conclusion of the Group of Experts made in paragraph 153 of the aforementioned report that it did not observe materiel being imported in violation of the sanctions regime. The Group says that it cannot confirm that there are individuals in Côte d’Ivoire who are determined to sabotage the peace and national reconciliation process, as indicated in paragraph 192. The Group also notes in paragraph 122 that it did not receive reports concerning cross-border security incidents with Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea or Mali, and that the army has been fully deployed at all borders. Above all, the Group of Experts established by the 1572 Committee acknowledges not having received any information to suggest that natural resources are being exploited or used to purchase arms or materiel or for related activities, as noted in paragraph 229. This progress clearly reflects the firm will of the Ivorian authorities to consolidate the gains made since 2011 with the support of the international community. Côte d’Ivoire has the requisite tools for marking and tracing firearms, and will pursue its efforts in the area of border control and inventory management. Upstream, I note that the country intends to strengthen the existing technical and legal instruments for the control of arms transfers, such as the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons at the regional level and the Arms Trade Treaty, which my country has just ratified. My country is also committed to controlling the flow of arms, to preventing cases of diversion, and especially to effectively fighting illicit flows, like all other States Members of the United Nations. In 2015, Côte d’Ivoire will hold elections that our President and all Heads of State and the Government want to be credible, transparent, open and inclusive. Regarding the preparations for these elections, the Ivorian Government welcomes the reforms made within the Independent Election Commission aimed at establishing optimal conditions for organizing the elections. In addition, arrangements are being made for the funding of political parties in order to increase their financial capacities, which will help them to meet the challenges of future elections. The Ivorian Government also intends to strengthen the partnership between the Forces républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire and the United Nations through the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) to prepare for the 2015 deadlines. In that respect, the cooperative support of UNOCI is welcome in strengthening the capacities of staff officers in planning at the national and regional levels; in the field, with support for site investigations for future deployment; in providing assistance in security, joint patrols, a deterrent presence in some areas, and support in transporting election materials and ballots; and in a cross-disciplinary tasks such as joint exercises in preparing for making the electoral process safe and secure. My Government believes that sanctions should be considered as one instrument in the service of a comprehensive approach to conflict resolution and management, in the sense that the partial or complete implementation of obligations imposed should result in the Council’s adoption of gradual and reciprocal measures, such as the reduction or complete lifting of sanctions, if possible. That is why I take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to the members of the Committee and the Council who, in seeking an objective analysis of progress in Côte d’Ivoire, decided in 2014 to ease the sanctions regime by adopting resolution 2153 (2014). My Government hopes that the ongoing consultations will ultimately lead to a total lifting of embargo measures. In our opinion, the draft resolution that members of the Council will adopt in the near future should be a transitional document towards the complete lifting of sanctions so that Côte d’Ivoire can finally be removed from the Security Council’s agenda. That will enable us to maintain a classic support relationship with the United Nations in meeting the challenges to our economic and social development.

I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.