Cote d'Ivoire: Secretary Meets With ECOWAS Foreign Ministers

On November 25, Secretary Powell met with the Foreign Ministers of the Economic Community of West Africa states. They reviewed the progress being made in Liberia and discussed ways to stabilize the situation in Cote d’Ivoire. The Secretary and the Ministers share the goal of bringing new momentum to finding a long term solution to that country’s problems.

Both the Secretary and the Ministers emphasized the need for parallel progress on the political and security fronts. Implementation of the Marcoussis accords remains the foundation of political progress. The United States and the West Africans agreed to continue their discussions with the parties in order to encourage this progress.

In that context, we urged the New Forces to return to the Government of National Reconciliation immediately so that the legislation required under the Marcoussis accords can be acted upon. We expect President Laurent Gbagbo to cooperate with the process as well.

The Secretary and the Ministers also discussed the need to take immediate steps to proceed with the disarmament and demobilization and rehabilitation (DDR) process and to dismantle impediments to free movement of people. We urge the New Forces to take immediate steps to participate in these programs.

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