Statement / by the President of the Security Council

Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 6234th meeting, 8 December 2009, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Côte d'Ivoire"]

Notes with concern the postponement of the 1st round of the presidential election, scheduled for 29 Nov. 2009; welcomes the 3 Dec. 2009 communiqué of the Permanent Consultative Framework; commends the Facilitator, President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, for his continued efforts to support the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire; takes note that the Permanent Consultative Framework considered that the postponement of the elections was due to technical and financial constraints and that the 1st round of the Presidential elections would be organized by the end of Feb. or the beginning of Mar. 2010; urges again the Ivorian authorities to allow equitable access to public media, consistent with the Code of Good Conduct for Elections; welcomes the signature by President Laurent Gbagbo on 17 Nov. 2009 of several military rules and regulations, including 7 decrees; recalls that it will review the mandate and the troop level of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) by 31 Jan. 2010; reiterates its determination to bring its full support to a credible electoral process in Côte d'Ivoire.

2 p.