Brussels, 08/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU will accede rapidly to the request made by Alassane Ouattara, the democratically elected president of Côte d'Ivoire, on Thursday 7 April, that the economic sanctions imposed by the EU on his country be eased. The news was announced on Friday 8 April, as the siege on the residence of self-proclaimed president Laurent Gbabgbo continued, with Gbagbo still refusing to cede power.
“We have received a request for some economic sanctions to be lifted. We are working closely with the authorities of Alassane Ouattara. We hope to be able to relax them shortly”, Michael Mann, the spokesman for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton told the press on Friday.
On that same day, European sources said that some of the sanctions which will affect economic activities that are essential to the new authorities will begin to be dismantled. The new authorities need the revenue generated by these activities, in the cocoa production sector in particular. “All member states are in agreement. The decision will be taken very quickly”, these sources said. (A.N./H.B./transl.rt)