UN sanctions chief urges action

The chairman of the UN Security Council sanctions committee for Cote d’Ivoire wrapped up a four-day visit on Friday by urging the warring parties to resolve the “serious problems” that have blocked the implementation of a succession of peace deals. The comments of Greek Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis came as the UN Security Council in New York called on all sides to "immediately comply" with three peace deals signed since the country was divided by war in September 2002. “We hope that all parties will do their best to find a solution [but] there are problems and these problems are serious,” said Vassilakis, adding that he has urged the warring factions to act in good faith. “I am optimistic but at the same time I am aware that there are problems […] if there is goodwill and good faith you can easily overcome [the crisis], but if not, there is a problem. I insist that good faith is absolutely necessary,” he said. Rebels, known as the New Forces, staged a failed coup in September 2002 taking hold of the north half of Cote d’Ivoire. Repeated peace deals have paved the way for the disarmament of rebel and government militia forces but implimentation has been a recurring problem and this once a beacon of stability and economic prosperity remains divided by war. Vassilakis declined to say whether sanctions would be meted out against Ivorian leaders anytime soon, but warned instead that human rights violations were a “very serious problem” and had to be curtailed. The UN, earlier this month, reported that human rights abuses were on the rise on both sides of the confidence zone – the strip of land monitored by French and UN peacekeeping soldiers that keeps the warring government and rebel forces apart. Last November, the UN Security Council approved individual sanctions such as travel bans or asset freezes against anyone seen as blocking the peace process, violating human rights or inciting hatred, but so far no sanctions have been imposed to enable mediators to try to solve the three-year-old crisis. Diplomats told IRIN that sanctions would only be used as a last resort in combating the intransigence of some of the key players. Vassilakis hinted that a lack of goodwill on both sides had delayed the implementation of the 2003 French-brokered Marcoussis peace plan. “Peace is possible – it suffices that everybody takes the necessary steps,” Vassilakis said. During his visit Vassilakis met with President Laurent Gbagbo, leader of the New Forces rebels Guillaume Soro, Prime Minister Seydou Diarra and former president Henri Konan Bedie. While Vassilakis was talking in the economic capital Abidjan, the UN Security Council ended a week of discussions on Cote d’Ivoire by demanding action on a string of peace deals in France, Ghana and most recently, South Africa. The Security Council has supported African Union proposals to allow Gbagbo to remain in power for up to 12 months beyond the end of his mandate, which expires when presidential elections should have been held on the 30 October. The AU, backed by the UN, has asked Gbagbo to appoint a new prime minister who would be mutually agreeable to all the warring parties to lead the country to reorganised polls. AU Chairman, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and South African President Thabo Mbeki – who has lead mediations in Cote d’Ivoire – are expected in the country within the week to jointly chair a meeting of Ivorian government, rebel and opposition leaders in the capital Yamoussoukro. The two heads of state are expected to thrash out a consensus so that a new prime minister can be named before the 30 October deadline.