By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 6 -- As the stand-off in Cote d'Ivoire continues, talk around the UN in New York turned to money: specifically, how to cut off Laurent Gbagbo's funds. The US applied financial sanctions to Gbagbo and his wife Simone. France, it was said, was looking into how the Gbagbo government continues to collect customs, particularly on cocoa.
Inner City Press asked an Ivorian diplomat, now representing Alassane Ouattara, how he is getting paid. The diplomat shook his head and said “it is difficult.” Others say that automatic payments continue to Ivorian diplomats for now, but may soon stop.
While UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon mentioned in his read out of a call with Ouattara that he took note of Ouattara's call for an International Criminal Court investigation, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman what he thought of Ouattara urging a “special forces” operation:
Inner City Press: Mr. Ouattara in Côte d’Ivoire has said that he’s written to Ban Ki-moon, asking for some sort of an ICC [International Criminal Court] investigation in Côte d’Ivoire. Can you confirm receipt of that letter? And also, he’s also called for a special operations action against Laurent Gbagbo, presumably to remove him from the country or otherwise. What does the UN think of that call?
Spokesperson Martin Nesirky: Well, on the first one, we’re checking to see whether there’s been a letter, but what I would mention is that, as I think you know, the Secretary-General spoke to President Ouattara by telephone, and — that was on 1 January — and on the readouts, we said that the Secretary-General took note of President Ouattara’s call, during their conversation, for an early International Criminal Court investigation as a credible signal for accountability. On the second point, we’ve seen those reports. As we’ve repeatedly said, we support the diplomatic efforts of ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] and the African Union. They’re working hard to find a political solution to what is obviously a very difficult situation, and we think it’s important that they are allowed to have the time to make that diplomatic process work.
Inner City Press: Would it be fair to say that the UN doesn’t look favourably on the idea of special operations? Is that what you’re saying?
Spokesperson: I’m saying that the diplomatic process is an important aspect here. ECOWAS and the African Union have been playing an important role, which the Secretary-General supports. And, as I’ve mentioned, he is in close touch with ECOWAS and the African Union on this matter.
Security Council sources tell Inner City Press that during the negotiation of the most recent Press Statement on Cote d'Ivoire, there was a request that the statement call for a “peaceful” solution, but that the United States did not want this word in.
The Council source asked Inner City Press, rhetorically, “Isn't the UN supposed to be about peaceful solutions?” And what about that call by Ouattara for a special forces operation? Watch this site.
