PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Cote d'Ivoire: 'There is no change to status quo'
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (PANA) - Raïla Odinga, the Kenyan Prime Minister and African Union (AU) mediator in the Laurent Gbagbo-Alassane Ouattara election row in Cote d'Ivoire, left Abidjan, the capital, Wednesday, saying "there is no change to the status quo".
Odinga, who arrived the west African nation Monday, told newsmen on his way out at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, that "Despite long discussions Monday with Mr. Gbagbo and president-elect Ouattara, I regret to announce that the necessary progress did not materialise."
According to the AU envoy, one of the main objectives of his mission was to convince Gbagbo to accept that he needed to put his presidency in the agenda of the discussions and to lift the blockade of the Golf Hotel, where Ouattara and his supporters have taken positions.
"It was imperative the blockade of the Golf Hotel be lifted. Mr. Gbagbo gave me the assurance this blockade would be lifted but he did not keep this promise for the second time in two weeks," Odinga lamented.
According to the Kenyan Prime Minister, Ouattara accepted his proposal to name in his government some Gbagbo supporters.
Odinga said he had also asked Ouattara for a quick and peaceful resolution of the crisis, to give Gbagbo assurances on his freedom to choose "in dignity and security his future options, including the possibility to continue politicking in Cote d'Ivoire or to go and settle in a country of his choice."
He noted that "the refusal to respect the will of the Ivorians expressed in the elections of 28 November will deal a severe blow to the wave of democracy that is blowing across Africa."
The Kenyan Prime Minister expressed fear that instability and insecurity could spread on the continent if both political leaders refused to yield grounds.
Despite this, however, Odinga said discussions would continue and that the military option to solve this crisis would only be a last resort "when all the peaceful ways are exhausted."
The second round of the presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire produced two presidents, Ouattara, proclaimed by the Independent Electoral Commission and recognised by the international community, and Gbagbo, declared winner by the Constitutional Council.
-0- PANA GB/JSG/IBA/MTD/BOS 19Jan2011
Odinga, who arrived the west African nation Monday, told newsmen on his way out at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, that "Despite long discussions Monday with Mr. Gbagbo and president-elect Ouattara, I regret to announce that the necessary progress did not materialise."
According to the AU envoy, one of the main objectives of his mission was to convince Gbagbo to accept that he needed to put his presidency in the agenda of the discussions and to lift the blockade of the Golf Hotel, where Ouattara and his supporters have taken positions.
"It was imperative the blockade of the Golf Hotel be lifted. Mr. Gbagbo gave me the assurance this blockade would be lifted but he did not keep this promise for the second time in two weeks," Odinga lamented.
According to the Kenyan Prime Minister, Ouattara accepted his proposal to name in his government some Gbagbo supporters.
Odinga said he had also asked Ouattara for a quick and peaceful resolution of the crisis, to give Gbagbo assurances on his freedom to choose "in dignity and security his future options, including the possibility to continue politicking in Cote d'Ivoire or to go and settle in a country of his choice."
He noted that "the refusal to respect the will of the Ivorians expressed in the elections of 28 November will deal a severe blow to the wave of democracy that is blowing across Africa."
The Kenyan Prime Minister expressed fear that instability and insecurity could spread on the continent if both political leaders refused to yield grounds.
Despite this, however, Odinga said discussions would continue and that the military option to solve this crisis would only be a last resort "when all the peaceful ways are exhausted."
The second round of the presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire produced two presidents, Ouattara, proclaimed by the Independent Electoral Commission and recognised by the international community, and Gbagbo, declared winner by the Constitutional Council.
-0- PANA GB/JSG/IBA/MTD/BOS 19Jan2011
