17/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Piebalgs in Abidjan. European Development Commissioner was due to land in Abidjan on Tuesday evening 17 April for an official visit to Côte d'Ivoire, one year on from his first visit to the country following the end of fighting. He will hold meetings with President Alassane Ouattara and Prime Minister Jeannot Kouadio-Ahoussou to relaunch political dialogue and to agree the priority development areas. In addition to the challenges facing Côte d'Ivoire, the commission will also discuss regional issues, such as the situation in Mali and in the Sahel region, with President Ouattara, who currently holds the presidency of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). “My visit is proof that the EU is and will remain a trustworthy partner for Côte d'Ivoire in its long-term development efforts”, Piebalgs said before leaving. (OL/transl.rt)