In his New Year message Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo has said that 2010 will be the year of general elections in the country, saying that “everything is ready” to go to these polls.
“For us, for Cote d’Ivoire, 2010 is not an ordinary year. It will be a year of important events that will mark the history and life of our nation,” Gbagbo said.
“2010 will be the year of general elections,” he said, noting that these elections “are anticipated not only by the Ivorians, but also by all our partners.”
According to Gbagbo, Ivorians expect these elections to end the exceptional situation, introduced because of the war.
“We want to return to normal rhythm of elections and ensuring the regular functioning of democratic institutions. We want to build peace on democracy. Therefore we must meet the challenge of overcoming the crisis through elections,” he continued, saying the country’s partners look ahead to these polls to intensify their cooperation with Cote d’Ivoire.
“I remember that none of our traditional partners has abandoned us in the crisis, on the contrary, despite the difficult situation of the country, we have broadened the base of our cooperation. All have supported us in our efforts to maintain the fundamentals of our economy and preserve the balance of our society, “he recalled.
Secondly, Laurent Gbagbo said further, “these elections are important because they will end the long crisis that followed the war that began in 1993 with the death of President Houphouet-Boigny.
“This crisis we suffered with the war in September 2002, has long smoldered until it burst open ten years ago, with the coup of December 1999. It is a crisis of succession,” the Ivorian president concluded.
According to the latest recommendations of the Permanent Coordination Committee (CPC) of the Ouagadougou political agreement, the first round of the Ivorian presidential elections, constantly postponed since October 2005, the date of completion of the constitutional mandate of President Laurent Gbagbo, must be held in late February or early March.
Source African Press Agency
