National reconciliation forum ends

Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo approved the recommendations of a three-month national reconciliation forum - ranging from the re-opening of an inquiry into a massacre of civilians in 2000 to the recognition of the citizenship of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara - when he officially closed the forum, on Tuesday. During the closing ceremony - attended by political leaders, religious heads, foreign diplomats, and members of the civil society - Gbagbo reviewed and commented on each of the 14 resolutions presented to him last week by the forum's steering committee. One of the most important recommendations concerned the nationality of former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara. The committee recommended, in its 13 December report, that the authorities deliver Ouattara a certificate of nationality. "I have nothing to add," Gbagbo commented in his speech. Ouattara's nationality has been at the core of the country's political debate for almost a decade. He and his party, le Rassemblement des Republicains, say he is Ivorian. His opponents say he is not. He was barred from competing in presidential and legislative elections in 2000 by the Supreme Court, which deemed him ineligible because of "doubtful nationality". But analysts told IRIN that the steering committee's recommendation only solved part of the problem. The remaining obstacle lies in Ouattara's eligibility for political office, which does not come automatically with the recognition of his Ivorian nationality. Another key resolution relates to the re-opening of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of 57 men whose bodies were discovered in late October 2000 in the Abidjan suburb of Yopougon. Eight gendarmes charged with the murders were acquitted by a military tribunal. Gbagbo said he would set up a body to ensure that "the entire inquiry is begun again from scratch", adding he was not satisfied with the result. Gbagbo also said that a 1999 coup d'etat that overthrew then president Henri Konan Bedie must be condemned and, efforts made to deter those who think they can gain access to power by undemocratic means. The 14 resolutions, which also included proposals on education reform, immigration, land reform, the justice system and security, were the results of the public debate in which representatives of political, religious, non-governmental, academic and other groups analysed and proposed solutions to the country's socio-political problems. The forum officially opened on 9 October. Major political leaders who attended the closing ceremony included Ouattara and Cote d'Ivoire's former president, General Robert Guei. Another former President Konan Bedie did not attend.