AFRICAN UNION		UNION AFRICAINE
		UNIÃO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P. O. Box 3243 Telephone 517 700 Cables: OAU, ADDIS ABABA

PRESS RELEASE No. 016/2003

The Interim Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Mr. Amara Essy, welcomes the conclusion of the round table on Côte d’Ivoire, which took place from 6-7 March 2003, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor.

The consensus reached by the Ivorian Parties constitutes an important step in the implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Accord and the search for a durable solution to the Ivorian crisis. The Interim Chairperson welcomes, in particular, the progress made towards the formation of a Government of National Reconciliation.

He congratulates President John A. Kufuor for his commitment and determination, which ensured the success of the Accra Round Table.

The Interim Chairperson urges the Ivorian Parties to continue to demonstrate the same political will in order to achieve durable reconciliation.

He reaffirms the determination of the African Union to stand by the Ivorian parties in their search for peace and reconciliation.

It should be recalled that the African Union was represented at the Accra Round Table by Professor Andre Salifou, the Interim Chairperson’s Special Representative in Cote d’Ivoire.

Addis Ababa, 10 March 2003