Cote d'Ivoire: Violence in Abidjan

The United States deplores the ongoing violence and events in Cote d’Ivoire.

We call on all parties to resume participation in the government of national reconciliation and to set Cote d’Ivoire on the renewed path to development, peace, and stability.

In particular we call on President Gbagbo, working with the leaders of all parties, to fix a timetable for immediate action to implement the laws on nationality and land tenure that are called for by the Linas Marcoussis Agreement, to begin the process of Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration, and to restore civilian administration throughout the country, and prepare for elections.

The international community stands ready to assist Cote d’Ivoire, but it is up the Ivoirian people and their leaders to restore peace and stability by implementing now the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement they reached in 2003.

It is only through compromises that lead to establishing well-founded and broad-based institutions and practices that Ivoirians can make their shared destiny a bright future.

2004/322