Kufuor calls for UN intervention in the Ivorian crisis

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - ECOWAS Chairman, President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday called for an intervention from the United Nations (UN) in peacekeeping in Cote d'Ivoire to facilitate the peace process and the implementation of the Marcussis and Accra Accords.

President Kufuor said there was a stalemate in Cote d'Ivoire; therefore, it was high time the peacekeeping was taken over by the UN and any support from the EU would be welcomed.

He was optimistic that with the presence of the UN in Cote d'Ivoire, the country would be more secured for the transitional government to work with the various factions towards the general election in 2005.

"The presence of UN would also enable the government and the factions to work effectively towards the implementation of the Marcussis and Accra Accords", he said.

President Kufuor made the call when a five-member delegation of the European Union (EU) on a three-day tour of some countries within the West African Sub-Region paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu. Countries visited by the delegation were Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana.

He expressed appreciation to the EU for its interest in the conflicts in the West African Sub-Region and stressed that the relationship between the Sub-Region and Europe began during the Colonial rule when both regions were not grouped into entities and had continued now that the EU had been formed and ECOWAS had also been formed.

The ECOWAS Chairman said the Sub-Region abounded in conflicts that must be overcome quickly for its socio-economic development, adding; "we are always trying to resolve conflicts".

He said the issue in Guinea Bissau was important because, even though, the people want to live under democratic rule things were difficult and unless the EU rallied behind them with resources, they would not be able to have normalcy to enable the new government and the people to take roots in democratic rule.

On Liberia, President Kufuor said there was no doubt that Liberians wanted to overcome the past atrocities.

He said Liberia was not a poor country but would need a lot of support during the transitional period to enable it to succeed and prepare the country for democratic rule.

"Real material support and funding should go to the transitional government and the EU should come on board with commitment", he said. Senator Alfredo Mantica, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in Italy and Leader of the delegation, said the EU was committed to ensuring that peace and stability prevailed within the Sub-Region.

He said following discussions with officials of ECOWAS on technical issues, the EU would continue to provide more material and professional support to the ECOWAS, especially in conflicts prevention and management.

Mr Mantica expressed concern about the stalemate in the Ivorian crisis and said there was no alternative to soling the problem outside the Marcussis and Accra Accords and pledged the support of the EU in their implementation.

He said the situation in Guinea Bissau required a comprehensive intervention to solve and the EU would carefully evaluate and assess requests made by ECOWAS.

On Liberia, Mr Mantica said the issue was an opportunity and a challenge and the support by the EU and the UN were basic and expressed the hope that Liberia would go through the development of new values for human rights and the transitional government would be a reality.

He said the situation in Cote d'Ivoire would take some time to normalize because disarmament should be done gradually and not overnight.

Mr Mantica said the transitional government in Cote d'Ivoire had provided the goodwill and ability to tackle the problem that required a regional stabilization plan, because instability in Cote d'Ivoire was instability for countries within the Sub-Region.

He said the EU was committed to peace in Africa and would collaborate with the African Union (AU) and its regional institutions to re-organise itself.

"We will support Africa to solve its problems, all African countries would receive the same assistance. We have to work together with patience and understanding", he said.