By Matthew Russell Lee, for InnerCityPro.com
UNITED NATIONS, January 20 -- The UN Security Council today unanimous adopted a resolution on Cote d'Ivoire which while reducing ONUCI's military force from 5,437 to 4,000 did not lift the arms embargo on the country. After the vote there was only one speaker, Egypt, transcribed here by InnerCityPro:
“Egypt voted in favor of the resolution on UNOCI, although we had hoped that the resolution highlights the requests submitted by the government of Cote d’Ivoire to lift the embargo measures placed against the Cote d’Ivoire. However given the importance of the resolution, given the positive messages that it sends to the government and people of Cote d’Ivoire and in particular, regarding this decisive turning point of the country, on the democratic and political development of the country, and in light of the progressive draw-down of UNOCI man power, the delegation of Egypt wanted to join the unanimous vote of the Council.
“Let me just state that Egypt continues to think that it is appropriate to lift the measures imposed against the government of Cote d’Ivoire in the framework of the discussion regarding the future of the UN’s mission in Cote d’Ivoire. In parallel to a draw-down of man power, it’s important to undertake efforts to reform the security sector to enable the national government of Cote d’Ivoire that has been elected to take on its responsibilities in the area of maintaining peace and security over its territory, given the major regional challenges that the country is facing in the area of security hence it is important to continue efforts in the area of political and economic reform as well as to achieve national reconciliation.
“We await an in-depth discussion on lifting of sanctions and a review of the sanctions regime that has been imposed against Cote d'Ivoire, and this will take place next march. Thank you very much.”