In groundbreaking talks, faction leaders recommit to peace

The five key players in Cote d’Ivoire’s conflict have renewed their commitment to peace efforts after holding their first face-to-face talks at home since war broke out more than three years ago. While there were few concrete agreements, Tuesday’s four-hour meeting behind closed doors broke new ground and brought fresh hopes of a breakthrough in stumbling efforts to reunify the West African nation, divided between a rebel-held north and government south since 2002. Winding up the talks, interim Prime Minister Charles Banny read a statement saying the country’s political heavyweights supported UN resolution 1633, the blueprint for peace outlined by the international community in late 2005 to help end Cote d’Ivoire’s conflict. However, Banny called the talks primarily to thaw relations among President Laurent Gbagbo, rebel leader Guillaume Soro, and the two main opposition leaders Henri Konan Bedie and Alassane Ouattara. The face-to-face meeting of the four faction leaders plus Banny had been scheduled for Monday but was delayed by one day by a row over security. Notwithstanding, Banny described the atmosphere as "fraternal.” The final statement did not give a clear timetable for disarmament or set a date for presidential elections, which under Resolution 1633 must take place by next October, but said the participants "acknowledged the necessity of updating the timetable and immediately resuming dialogue" between army and rebel chiefs. The leaders also agreed to try to meet frequently “to discuss the peace process and ensure a peaceful political climate.” Turning to a potentially troublesome item, the participants agreed on the make-up of the national electoral commission, saying the post of a fourth vice-president for the commission could be created "to achieve a balanced representation." The commission’s current composition is disputed by the ruling Ivorian Popular Front party, which claims last year's elections for the chairmanship were unfair. The chairman hails from the opposition Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire, while the new post could go to the ruling party. UN special envoy for the elections, Antonio Monteiro, said last week the current composition was in keeping with the UN resolution. The statement said the five leaders "took note of the election...and the arbitrage."