African Ambassadors at the UN endorse Ouattara as President of Cote d’Ivoire

The Africa Group of Ambassadors at the UN on Monday said the victory of Mr Alassane Ouattara as President-elect of Cote d’Ivoire should be respected.

They contended that military option was “no option” while the evolving refugee situation was a matter of concern.

This was the outcome of their monthly consultation meeting held this month at the behest of the African members and the Security Council comprising Gabon, Nigeria and South Africa.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration signed by Mr Leslie Christian, Head of Mission at the UN said the “ Mission will continue to monitor the situation and report accordingly.”

According to the Group, the mandate of Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore as ECOWAS mediator in the Cote d’Ivoire crisis, ended with the holding of the November Elections in the country.

It said Ghana’s long espoused position of not recommending military option in Cote d’Ivoire appeared to have been vindicated although the solution to the on-going crisis seemed to be highly elusive.

The Group said the UN was looking up to ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) to help find an answer to the current stalemate.

“The upcoming AU Summit at the end of January 2011 should therefore be critical in the on-going efforts to help bring closure to the current electoral crisis in Cote d’Ivoire,” the statement added.

Source: GNA