Mar 31, 2011
United Nations - Nigeria says it is satisfied with the international pressure and isolation aimed at removing incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d’Ivoire from power.
Gbagbo’s refusal to cede power to the internationally recognised winner of last November’s election, Alassane Ouattara, had plunged the country into protracted crisis.
Nigeria ambassador to the UN Joy Ogwu, spoke to reporters on Wednesday in New York after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Gbagbo, his wife and three associates.
“We are satisfied that all member states in one voice and one accord called for specific and targeted sanctions against Gbagbo.
“ For us we believe that the die is cast and this will present sufficient pressure on Gbagbo to step down,’’ she said.
Ogwu said the Council’s resolution also gave UN peacekeepers in the country more authority to protect civilians, as requested by ECOWAS heads of government.
“ECOWAS did not ask for the use of force they just asked for targeted sanctions and a reinforcement of the mandate of UNOCI to deal with the protection of civilian population which also includes citizens from ECOWAS member states and other neighbouring countries.
“What ECOWAS was asking for is a united international voice, a collective international voice that we have received today.”
The Nigeria ambassador however admitted that some of the “elements’’ which ECOWAS wanted into the resolution were “dissected’’ by council members.
“ Especially the use of heavy weapons was tampered to read like this: UNOCI will prevent rather than seize heavy weapons’’.
“That implies that UNOCI should not go beyond its mandate to protect civilians and defend itself,’’ she said.
Ogwu said the resolution also warned Gbagbo of the possibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) punishing those who violate international humanitarian law.
Resolution 1975 was adopted five days after its introduction by Nigeria and France.
The resolution was at the behest of ECOWAS member states to the Security Council to provide a tougher mandate for the UN force in Cote d’Ivoire to help oust Gbagbo from power. (NAN)
vanguardngr.com/2011/03/nigeria-satisfied-with-international-pressure-to-oust-gbagbo/
Gbagbo’s refusal to cede power to the internationally recognised winner of last November’s election, Alassane Ouattara, had plunged the country into protracted crisis.
Nigeria ambassador to the UN Joy Ogwu, spoke to reporters on Wednesday in New York after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Gbagbo, his wife and three associates.
“We are satisfied that all member states in one voice and one accord called for specific and targeted sanctions against Gbagbo.
“ For us we believe that the die is cast and this will present sufficient pressure on Gbagbo to step down,’’ she said.
Ogwu said the Council’s resolution also gave UN peacekeepers in the country more authority to protect civilians, as requested by ECOWAS heads of government.
“ECOWAS did not ask for the use of force they just asked for targeted sanctions and a reinforcement of the mandate of UNOCI to deal with the protection of civilian population which also includes citizens from ECOWAS member states and other neighbouring countries.
“What ECOWAS was asking for is a united international voice, a collective international voice that we have received today.”
The Nigeria ambassador however admitted that some of the “elements’’ which ECOWAS wanted into the resolution were “dissected’’ by council members.
“ Especially the use of heavy weapons was tampered to read like this: UNOCI will prevent rather than seize heavy weapons’’.
“That implies that UNOCI should not go beyond its mandate to protect civilians and defend itself,’’ she said.
Ogwu said the resolution also warned Gbagbo of the possibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) punishing those who violate international humanitarian law.
Resolution 1975 was adopted five days after its introduction by Nigeria and France.
The resolution was at the behest of ECOWAS member states to the Security Council to provide a tougher mandate for the UN force in Cote d’Ivoire to help oust Gbagbo from power. (NAN)
vanguardngr.com/2011/03/nigeria-satisfied-with-international-pressure-to-oust-gbagbo/
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