Brussels, 10/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - Due to the deteriorating human rights situation in Cote d'Ivoire, delays in implementing the Marcoussis agreement as it applies to preparations for elections and obstacles put in the way of an EU-financed audit in the cocoa sector, the European Commission has decided to propose opening consultations with Ivory Coast in accordance with Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. The aim of the consultations is to re-establish the full respect of the principles of human rights, democracy and rule of law. Implementation of development cooperation will be reassessed in the light of the outcome of the consultations. The final decision on the opening of such consultations is to be taken by the Council of Ministers.
In the view of the European Commission, there are three areas of particular concern: 1. Human rights were seriously violated in Abidjan at the end of March and more recently in Korhogo in the northern part of the country, which has been out of government control since the start of the crisis on 19 September 2002. 2. Democratic principles, in particular the holding of elections in 2005 in satisfactory conditions, are being jeopardised by the huge delays in adopting the principal legislation concerning the independent electoral commission, nationality and eligibility to become president of the republic as provided for in the Marcoussis peace agreement of 24 January 2003. 3. The rule of law is compromised by the obstacles the Ivorian government has put in the path of the EU-financed audit of the cocoa sector and there appears to be no effective legal remedy to the repeated refusals of several professional bodies in the coffee/cocoa sector to cooperate with the audit.