Brussels, 13/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Although the EU welcomes the surrender of Laurent Gbagbo, who is now under house arrest in Abidjan, it is aware of the enormous challenges still facing Alassane Ouattara, the democratically elected president whose headquarters are now in Abidjan. EU27 foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday said the EU is willing to make a financial contribution to reconstruction (see EUROPE 10357), and considers that the work of national reconciliation is a priority as the “reconciliation process will lay the foundations of the country's recovery”. They hailed President Ouattara's commitment to work towards this, and called for the formation of a national unity government.
After the work, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said: “We were delighted to welcome the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo and President Ouattara's announcement that he intends to pursue a policy of reconciliation and reconstruction in Côte d'Ivoire. The country must re-establish stability, peace and prosperity so that shattered lives can be rebuilt, families can be reunited and normal life can be resumed. This is a historic opportunity. We will do all we can to help”.
In its unanimous conclusions, the Council specifies that it “stands ready to support the work of the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission” proposed by Ouattara. It encourages the Ivorian president to “form an inclusive, broad-based government representative of all the regions and all strands of political opinion in the country”.
The EU also welcomes Ouattara's commitment to combating impunity and supporting the work of the international commission. The challenge is a sizeable one as it is a matter of restoring the people's confidence in the government and security forces, the Council states.
Confirming the EU's readiness to support the rapid economic reconstruction of the country, the Council indicates that, after having lifted restrictive measures on the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro, and on the Ivorian Refining Company and the Coffee and Cocoa Trade Management Committee (see EUROPE 10356), the EU plans to lift other sanctions. In addition to the €180 million announced on Tuesday by the European Commission for preparing reconstruction in cooperation with the Ivorian government, a further €400 million will be made available as exceptional support, announced by France for helping this severely tried country to raise itself up, said Alain Juppé, French Foreign Minister. The EU plans to fully resume its development cooperation with Côte d'Ivoire as soon as possible and undertakes to step up its humanitarian aid over and above the €30 million already made available, if necessary. (A.N./transl.jl)