Brussels 15/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The services of the Council of the EU are working to put together a list of people to be affected by the targeted sanctions decided upon by the EU on Monday 13 December against Ivorian senior figures who have refused to recognise the authority of Alassane Ouattara, the democratically elected president (EUROPE 10276). On the same day, a mandate was conferred upon Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to create this list as soon as possible.
According to diplomatic sources, 11 people will be targeted by a visa ban and the freezing of their assets held in banks on the territory of the EU. Among them are Kadet Berlin, the adviser for security, Desiré Tagro, the secretary general of the presidency and Yao N'Dre, the president of the Constitutional Council which invalidated the results of the presidential elections of 28 November. Pascal Affi N'Guessan, the secretary general of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), the party of Laurent Gbagbo, and Pierre Israel Amessan Brou, the director general of the state broadcasting services and a number of military and security figures are also expected to be included on the list.
On Monday 13 December, Catherine Ashton told the European press that she hoped that the announcement of these sanctions would convince Laurent Gbagbo to cede power to Alassane Ouattara before these restrictive measures are set in place. The full list of those targeted will be known once it has been published in the Official Journal of the EU. (A.N./transl.fl)