Brussels, 07/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), welcomes the peace agreement reached on 5 March between the Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo, and the New Forces leader, Guillaume Soro. A press release published on 6 March by the services of the EU high representative states that this is a substantial agreement that tackles all questions underpinning the problem in Côte d'Ivoire and which, “if implemented in full, opens the road to restoring a normal situation in Côte d'Ivoire, which is a key country for stabilisation of the whole of West Africa”.
Javier Solana praises the eminent role played by Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso and President-in-Office of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in facilitating this dialogue.
After the progress made last week in the Republic of Guinea, the high representative was pleased to note the “fundamental role played by the African players (African Union, ECOWAS) in resolving African crises”. (an)