COTE D'IVOIRE: COUNCIL RENEWS SANCTIONS REGIME

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000971 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ETTC UNSC CDI SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: COUNCIL RENEWS SANCTIONS REGIME ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 29, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1893, which renewed the arms embargo, asset freeze, travel ban, and diamond embargo in Cote d'Ivoire, as well as the mandate of the Group of Experts, for an additional twelve months. Cote d'Ivoire's Perm Rep, Alcide Djedje, explained why he believed that sanctions, particularly those targeting individuals, should not be renewed. He expressed disappointment with the Council for its decision to renew sanctions, and he hoped that the regime would be reviewed after Cote d'Ivoire's upcoming presidential elections. No Council delegations made statements. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On October 29, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1893, which renewed the arms embargo, asset freeze, travel ban, and diamond embargo in Cote d'Ivoire, as well as the mandate of the Group of Experts (GOE)- a team of UN-hired experts charged with monitoring implementation of the sanctions - for an additional twelve months. The resolution was adopted unanimously. The arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban were first established in UNSCR 1572 (2004),the GOE in UNSCR 1584 (2005),and the diamond embargo in UNSCR 1643 (2005). This was the fourth annual renewal of the diamond embargo; the fifth renewal of the arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban; and the seventh renewal of the GOE. ¶3. (SBU) After the resolution was adopted, Cote d'Ivoire's Perm Rep, Alcide Djedje, explained why his government believed the sanctions regime should not have been renewed. He said that, in accordance with the Ouagadougou Agreement, targeted sanctions against individuals should not be renewed. He noted, in particular, that ECOWAS had recently called for individual sanctions in Cote d'Ivoire to be lifted. He asked the Council to examine the reasons why sanctions were being imposed and whether they were aimed at punishing individual actors or at restoring Ivorian peace and stability. He said that if they were meant to punish, they should be removed, in accordance with the UN Charter. He added that sanctions should always have clearly defined objectives, and that they should have deadlines and frequent periods of review. ¶4. (SBU) Perm Rep Djedje expressed disappointment with the Council for its decision to renew the sanctions. He said he hoped that the sanctions regime would not be renewed after Cote d'Ivoire's upcoming presidential elections. He noted that the situation in Cote d'Ivoire has significantly improved since 2004 and he urged the Council to reconsider the sanctions three months after the elections, currently scheduled for late November. He warned that the continued use of sanctions would not help Ivorians in the process of national peace and reconciliation. Rice