Ban backs to Ivory Coast talks

2007-01-30 18:31

Addis Ababa - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon gave his backing on Tuesday to peace talks between Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and rebel leader Guillaume Soro as long as the dialogue took place in the framework of an internationally-backed peace process.

Soro said last week that direct talks with Gbagbo could start in early February to promote the stalled process under the mediation of Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, head of the Economic Community for West Africa (Ecowas).

However, the talks appeared to envisage no role for Charles Konan Banny, the prime minister of the UN-backed Ivorian transitional government.

"It would be desirable if the proposals would be in line with the security council resolution 1721, which granted the premier large powers," said Ban, who met in Addis Ababa with Gbagbo on Monday on the sidelines of an African Union (AU) summit.

A peace process in the world's largest cocoa producer and former economic hub of the region began in January 2003 and has thus far led to the formation of the transitional government after the deployment of UN and French peacekeepers.

But the tasks of disarmament, voter registration for planned elections and national reunification have been blocked for more than two years, with the government and rebels each accusing the other of creating obstacles.

- AFP