# CE2004088EN.01047301.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/473 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/473

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(2004/C 88 E/0485)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3591/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject:   Côte d'Ivoire — the war breaks out again

Subject:

The rebel forces controlling the northern part of Côte d'Ivoire yesterday announced a state of emergency in the regions where they operate, and accused President Laurent Gbagbo of getting ready to resume fighting the war which was interrupted at the beginning of this year.

Disagreements about a government of national unity have brought the two sides to the brink of fresh fighting, four months after the official ending of the conflict.

Politicians from other West African countries have attempted to save the peace process, but the rebels, who walked out of the ‘transition executive’ in September, are now accusing the President of planning to attack the towns of Man and Bouaké.

The Commission:

| — | is it following this fresh upsurge of conflict in Côte d'Ivoire? What impact will a resumption of the fighting have on political stability in that part of the world; |
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is it following this fresh upsurge of conflict in Côte d'Ivoire? What impact will a resumption of the fighting have on political stability in that part of the world;

| — | is it in contact with the two sides? What means is it using in order to try to bring pressure on them to put an end to this situation, and to encourage them to reach agreement; |
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is it in contact with the two sides? What means is it using in order to try to bring pressure on them to put an end to this situation, and to encourage them to reach agreement;

| — | what steps has it taken or does it intend to take with regard to ensuring the safety of EU citizens resident in Côte d'Ivoire? |
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what steps has it taken or does it intend to take with regard to ensuring the safety of EU citizens resident in Côte d'Ivoire?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2004)

(15 January 2004)

The Commission is following closely the evolution of the political situation in Côte d'Ivoire, both from headquarters and through its Delegation in Abidjan. At headquarters, in addition to a daily monitoring of the situation, an ad hoc Task Force on Côte d'Ivoire headed by the Director for West and Central Africa, meets regularly. It is composed of representatives of all the concerned Directorates General of the Commission. In Abidjan, a Political Adviser has recently been appointed at the Delegation, and the Head of Delegation is one of the 13 members of the Monitoring Committee of the Marcoussis Agreement, which meets at least once a week.

Through the Monitoring Committee of the Marcoussis Agreement, the Commission is in contact with the two sides. Furthermore, President Prodi visited Abidjan on 13 November 2003: he met President Ggbabo, Prime Minister Diarra and members of his government, the Monitoring Committee of the Marcoussis Agreement and the ten political forces signatories of the Marcoussis Agreement. He stressed the necessity to reach agreement between them solves and that the Union was willing to disburse its aid to the country, but would do it only when peace is reached, which means that the disarmament process has to be launched and the country has to be reunified. He urged the New Forces to come back to the Council of Ministers and President Gbagbo and the government to fully implement the Marcoussis Agreement.

This matter remains within the competence of the Member States: the Commission does not have at its disposal the logistic means to ensure the safety of the Union citizens in third countries.

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