Nana Akufo Addo Confers with Gbagbo

Daokukro (Cote d'Ivoire), April 23, GNA - Ghana's Foreign Minister, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has held separate closed door meetings with Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo and Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny on ways of accelerating the pace towards the return to normalcy in Cote d'Ivoire.

He also held talks with opposition leader Alhassane Ouattara and Henri Konan Bedie, the former President.

The meetings came at the heels of the 6th Meeting of the International Working Group (IWG), a panel of mediators overseeing a UN blueprint for peace in Cote d'Ivoire under the chairmanship of UN special envoy to La Cote d'Ivoire, Pierre Schori and Congolese Foreign Minister Rodolphe Adada.

Briefing journalists, Nana Akufo Addo said he took time to extend President John Agyekum Kufuor's sentiments to the Ivorian people and inquired on the feelings and commitment of the Ivorian leaders to the peace process due to the close proximity and ties Cote d'Ivoire has with Ghana.

He is expected to brief President Kufuor on the Ivorian situation. "We are linked by history, blood and have been good neighbours for several years, that whatever happens in Cote d'Ivoire should concern us and vice versa.

He described his meeting with President Gbagbo as positive and fruitful, noting that, he expressed optimism and expectation on the international process for peace.

"He said we are all tired of the uncertain situation that our country finds itself and remain committed to seeing that we return our people to a new era of peace and self determination." Asked what he deduced from the Ivorian leaders' demeanour, Nana Akufo Addo said, I believe he is positive about what he said, looking at the meeting of the various deadlines set by the IWG under the UN mandate.

The issues of identity and citizenship are at the heart of the war that has split Cote d'Ivoire into two, since 2002, with rebels of the New Forces controlling the north and President Gbagbo's administration in the south.

The lack of ID for an estimated three million people prompted many to join the rebel cause, which has made travel across the divide difficult. Identifying Ivorians and determining their nationality is also key to organizing Presidential and general elections in October according to the UN peace plan set out in Security Council Resolution 1633.

The meeting with Prime Minister Banny was also held behind closed doors but insiders described it as a leap forward "considering the report that he (Banny) gave on what has gone on so far. Nana Akufo Addo said his meeting with Mr Ouattara was equally positive.

He indicated Ghana's keen interest in the events in Cote d'Ivoire and expressed the hope that at long last, all the key actors were moving towards the set goal.

"I was happy that at long last, the bull is being held by the horn and that sooner than later, Ivorians can choose their own leader." Mr Ouattara thanked the Foreign Minister for Ghana's huge interest in the Ivorian situation and thanked the role played by President John Agyekum Kufuor over the years. He referred to the several meetings in Accra till July.

He also indicated that the crisis had lasted for too long and was eager to move ahead and have elections. "All the other leaders are also interested in moving forward with the process," he added. Current President Gbagbo, former Prime Minister Ouattara and former President Bedie are all eligible to stand for elections in October.

Ghana News Agency diplomatic contacts in Abidjan, the commercial capital, the countryside and officials of the various camps indicate that, there is a knotty point, that is, which part of the process must first start. This is believed could hold back progress.

The ruling government would wish to have the rebels start disarming themselves at the 110 sites demarcated before the identification process to determine who is a citizen takes off, while the other camps aligned to the rebel forces believe that identification must be done first. Nana Akufo Addo was accompanied by Mr Kabral Blay Amihere, Ghana's Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, and officials of the Foreign Ministry and Ghana's mission in Abidjan. 23 April 06