Gbagbo agrees to negotiate without preconditions
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The African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued a joint communique over Cote d'Ivoire on Tuesday, recognizing Alassane Ouattara as the country's legitimate president while the incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo said he agreed to negotiate without any preconditions.
The communique, which came after a five-member Joint High-Level Delegation undertook a mission to Cote d'Ivoire to seek a peaceful resolution of the political crisis, said the mission held extensive discussions with Choi Young-Jin, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cote d'Ivoire, Gbagbo, outgoing President of Cote d'Ivoire and Ouattara.
It said in the course of their deliberations, Gbagbo agreed to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis without any preconditions.
He also pledged to immediately lift the blockade around Hotel Du Golf, the temporary headquarters of Ouattara, the communique added.
On his part, Ouattara indicated his willingness to ensure a dignified exit for Gbagbo provided the latter accepted the outcome of the presidential election as declared by the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) and certified by the UN.
The mission reiterated to the parties the positions of the Extra-ordinary Summits of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and the AU Peace and Security Council on the Ivorian crisis.
In this respect, Ouattara is the legitimate and recognized president of Cote d'Ivoire in accordance with the will of the Ivorian electorate as freely expressed in the run-off election, the mission stressed.
The communique said the mission re-echoes the fervent call to Gbagbo to peacefully hand over power to Ouattara without further delay.
It commended the resolve of the AU and the ECOWAS to maintain their common principled stance and also act jointly in search of a lasting solution to the crisis.
It urges the two institutions to despatch another joint high level mission to Cote d'Ivoire as soon as possible to continue discussions with the two parties.
The mission recognized and appreciated the valuable contribution of Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya and the AU Special Envoy, to the joint efforts.
The mission called on the African Union and the ECOWAS Authority to continue their engagement with the international community with a view to securing adequate support for a sustainable resolution of the present Ivorian crisis.
The mission appeals to both parties to refrain from any acts likely to aggravate the already critical situation.
The mission expresses its gratitude to Ouattara and Gbagbo for their cooperation accorded the delegation.
ECOWAS suspended Cote d'Ivoire from the regional bloc over the country's electoral dispute on Dec. 7, 2010 and recognized Ouattara as the winner of the country's presidential run-off.
After the run-off held on Nov. 28, Ouattara was declared winner by the electoral commission while the Constitutional Council, which has the final say on the results, said Gbagbo won the vote. Gbagbo did not heed the international request and stayed on power, leading to a political standoff and the West African country was put at the real risk of a civil war.
Cote d'Ivoire was divided after the country's 2002-2003 civil war.
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