UN mulls sanctions for I Coast
2006-01-24 18:39
Washington - A UN Security Council panel is to meet on Monday to set a general framework for targeted sanctions against individuals blamed for anti-UN disturbances in the Ivory Coast, a diplomat said.
But the diplomat said the council's sanctions committee would not yet publish a list of individuals from the West African nation who face an asset freeze and a travel ban.
The formal meeting was convened by the head of the sanctions committee, Greek ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, last week after four days of violence against UN peacekeeping operations by backers of President Laurent Gbagbo.
Last Thursday, the 15-member Security Council condemned the violence and renewed threats of sanctions against individuals blocking the peace process, and those "who incite publicly hatred and violence".
That includes those who attacked or obstructed the 7 000-strong UN force, the 4 000 French troops supporting them, the UN-supported elections officials and members of the UN-mandated international working group (IWG).
Monday's meeting aimed to secure "a general consensus", including from African nations, on what criteria to use to select those who must be subjected to sanctions, the diplomat said.
He said no name had been put on the list yet. The head of the pro-Gbagbo Young Patriots nationalists, Charles Ble Goude, is reportedly a prime candidate.
Vassilakis said he was not aware of any list, but pointedly noted: "Whoever is impeding the peace process through violations of human rights or hate speech" will face sanctions.
Asked whether Ble Goude should make the list, Vassilakis said: "If he is the instigator, yes."
Meanwhile the diplomat said that the next step would be drawing up the list of targeted individuals, followed by a 48-hour notice to council members to raise objections.
The sanctions become effective if no objections are made during this period.
The sanctions are allowed under Security Council Resolution 1572, adopted in November 2004.
Under Resolution 1572, the sanctions committee, composed of representatives of each of the Security Council's 15 members, can draw up and vet a list of individuals seen as responsible for obstructing the peace process, incitement to hatred or violations of human rights and the arms embargo imposed on Ivory Coast.
Gbagbo loyalists on Friday ended their protests, which had been called to protest an IWG announcement that the current parliament, whose mandate expired last month, but was extended at Gbagbo's request, should dissolve.
The proposal aimed at easing the way for the UN-backed transitional government of Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny.
Ivory Coast, once one of Africa's most prosperous states, has been split since fighting broke out in 2002 between Gbagbo's government which controls the south of the country and rebels who control the mostly Muslim north.