State Department Noon Briefing, October 25, 2000
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2000 - 1:50 P.M.
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
Q: This is about the situation in Ivory Coast. We know that the US did
not bring the support for the election --
REEKER: I'm sorry, could you say that again?
Q: The situation in Ivory Coast. The US refused support for the
election in Ivory Coast, and after the election it seems like the
socialist leader Mr. Gbagbo seems to win the election. Is the US
position today unchanged and to bring finally some new sign there?
REEKER: I think what you are referring to in the first part of your
question is our suspension of electoral - of aid for the electoral
process. As you may recall from earlier briefings, there had been some
$1.2 million - isn't that right - approximately $1.2 million for
election assistance and political process strengthening. And that was
suspended when it became very clear that the process, the election,
could not be free and fair and inclusive when General Guei announced
his candidacy and the exclusion of other candidates. So obviously that
assistance remains suspended.
We understand in terms of the current situation now, we've been
obviously in very close touch with our Embassy in Abidjan and
monitoring as well press reports, we understand that General Guei may
have left Abidjan but there are conflicting reports there. We cannot
confirm his whereabouts.
The situation obviously remains extremely fluid. It's not clear who is
exercising authority in Cote d'Ivoire. There are continuing reports,
even just before I came out here, of people still in the streets in
Abidjan and lingering gunfire. We very much want to call upon all
parties in Cote d'Ivoire to refrain from violence and work to restore
calm and to return to the rule of law.
The United States calls for the restoration of democracy in Cote
d'Ivoire as soon as possible, and urges all parties to achieve an
interim arrangement so that there will be respect for the will of the
Ivorian people, but clearly a return to the rule of law and to the
democracy for which Cote d'Ivoire has been well known.
Q: Has the US - (inaudible) - to support Mr. Gbagbo, because since
--
REEKER: I think it's just far too fluid right now to make any
particular call on the situation. As I indicated, we don't see it
clear as to who is exercising authority in Cote d'Ivoire, but we do
hope that all parties can find a non-violent solution, restore
democracy, and obviously come up with an interim arrangement at least
that will respect the will of the Ivorian people.
Q: New subject?
REEKER: Anything else on Cote d'Ivoire?
Q: Would you support the idea of them rerunning the elections?
REEKER: I think it's certainly something we could consider right now.
It's just the situation is so fluid. As you know from discussions I
had with some of you yesterday - and it's frankly something we've
discussed for many weeks now leading up to those elections - we think
that the election was fundamentally flawed in terms of the electoral
process. As you know, General Guie and the military junta had had a
number of efforts to manipulate, including exclusion of a number of
candidates from opposition parties in the election. There was a clear
disregard for the rule of law in that process. Observers were
expelled, journalists were expelled, the vote count was suspended.
So clearly there were gross violations of democratic process in that,
and it's just a little too early to determine what the next step will
be. But we are calling on all parties there to refrain from violence
and come up with an interim agreement that can respect the will of the
Ivorian people and return to rule of law and get Cote d'Ivoire back on
the democratic path.
Q: Is it going to be the US wish to start over the election if General
Guie --
REEKER: Again, I think that was your colleague's question here, and I
just - it's too early to say. I think the situation is very fluid
right now. We need to see what the outcome is, and it's just too early
to predict. But we're monitoring it.
Q: What about if everything went fine? Are you going to be --
REEKER: I'm sorry?
Q: What about if things going fine and --
REEKER: Again, that's an "if" question, and I just want to wait as we
see events on the ground - I want to wait and see how things evolve
before we have anything further to say on the matter.
(The briefing was concluded at 2:30 P.M.)
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