Brussels, 15/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The relaunch of European aid to the Ivory Coast, presently limited to the implementation of programme underway without new financing, will depend upon the reality of the assurances given, this Thursday in Brussels, by a Ivory Coast delegation during talks which continued under Article 96 of the Cotonou agreement, "in an open and constructive spirit", according to a European source. In response to the Union's concerns over the exclusion of a political party during the last legislative and presidential elections and the human rights violations, which surrounded these elections despite assurances previously given, the Ivory Coast delegation, formed of Prime Minister Affi N'Guessan, accompanied by the Finance Minister, Mr Bousbre, and the Minister for Justice, Mr Oulai, took the following undertakings: a) remedy the problems and do their utmost to guarantee that the March local elections are open to all political parties; b) guarantee the independence and neutrality of the judicial authorities; c) work towards effective and efficient work by the reconciliation committee; d) give a priority to the leading of in-depth investigations into the atrocities committed during the transition period, including under the military regime; e) guarantee the neutrality of the armed forces and respect for human rights; f) guarantee freedom of expression and the press; g) publicly condemn the xenophobic statements and adopt administrative procedures concerning citizenship and residence; h) continue the dialogue with all political parties. The EU took note of these undertakings and will continue an intensive dialogue with the Ivory Coast authorities to analyse the situation.
EUROPE recalls that the consultation begun in February 2000 (under Article 366b of the Lomé Convention) after the coup d'état of 24 December condemned by the Union, had been concluded by a European promise of conditional resumed cooperation given the progress made by the Côte d'Ivoire authorities in restoring democracy and conform to the guarantees given by the transitional government. The Côte d'Ivoire delegation will be received on Friday by Development Commissioner Poul Nielson.