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Africa: West
France Seeks U.N. Forces in Ivory Coast
2004-01-18
France introduced a resolution calling for a 6,240-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in war-divided Ivory Coast, but the United States on Friday expressed reservations about the size and said it wants to examine the justification for the deployment.
"Marvin! Front and center! What the hell are the French doing now?!
"Well sir, they’re getting all unilateral again."
"Would it pay for us to remind the world of French hypocrisy?"
"Coals to Newscastle, sir."
Ivory Coast’s nine-month civil war officially ended in July, but the nation remains divided between rebel-held north and government-held south. A 2003 peace process brokered in France has never fully taken hold and more than 4,000 French and 1,000 West African troops are trying to avoid casualties helping to keep the peace. The French draft, circulated late Thursday, follows Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s recommendation for a peacekeeping mission with 6,240 troops, including 200 military observers and 120 staff officers. It would also authorize an international civilian police contingent, though no number was specified.
Plus a couple of doctors to keep the French cathouses clean.
"We have some reservations about the numbers," U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said Friday. "We had heard much lower numbers earlier on, so we really want to take a hard look at that."
Tell me, Marvin, who’s paying for this august little venture?"
"Guess, sir."
"Seems to me the French can cut this sucker in half."
The United States also wants to study Annan’s report to the Security Council earlier this month justifying the deployment of U.N. troops, Negroponte said. Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and West African leaders have urged the United Nations to take over the West African peacekeeping mission.
"It’s easier to smack the Uruguayans around!"
In the report, the secretary-general said West African peacekeepers are overstretched and requests for more money from donor nations haven’t been answered.
"Marvin, turn off the spigot on this one."
"Already done, sir."
But Annan said his recommendation for a U.N. force was contingent on the rebels and government showing progress in getting the peace process back on track by Feb. 4.
Oh. What’s all the fuss about then? They won’t be talking until 2006 2010.
The draft resolution would authorize the U.N. force to monitor the cease-fire and assist the transitional power-sharing government in disarming and repatriating the former combatants. It would also help the government extend its authority throughout the country and prepare for elections in 2005.
The government’s authority was doing pretty well until the French undermined it.
And elections is how they ended up with Gbagbo in charge. The rebels didn't like the results. What happens when they don't like the results of the next elections?
France has been pressing for approval of the draft resolution by Feb. 4, exactly a year after the Security Council authorized the French force to help enforce the shaky truce. The United Nations now has a small mission in Cyprus Ivory Coast - 71 military liaison officers who are working with the rebels and the government, as well as with the French and West African peacekeepers. French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who discused the Ivory Coast with Annan, said she stressed "the need for this deployment to be done rapidly," particularly since elections will take place in 18 months. But Negroponte said "I don’t think we can reach a decision by Feb. 4."
"I don’t think we need to rush into this one, Mr. Secretary."
"Reading my mind as usual, Marvin."
Posted by:Steve White

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