Envoy
5 March 2007
President Thabo Mbeki today received Ivory Coast Special Presidential envoy,
Madam Sarata Ottro�Toure at Mahlambandlopfu, the Presidential residence.
Madam Ottro was sent by Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo to hand deliver
a copy of the peace agreement entered into by President Gbagbo and Forces
Nouvelles leader, Guillaume Soro, in Burkina Faso yesterday.
The agreement was mediated by Chairperson of the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) and Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore.
President Mbeki will reiterate his congratulation and support to the people
of the Ivory Coast on behalf of the people and government of South Africa in
the ground breaking achievement represented by the signing of the peace
agreement.
The President yesterday wrote to both President Gbagbo and Mr Soro
congratulating them for signing the agreement and encouraged them to work
together in the reconstruction and development of the Ivory Coast.
President Mbeki thanked President Compaore for a job well done in bringing
the two sides together. He noted as correct and encouraging, President
Compaore's remarks at the signing ceremony in which he said "there should be no
winner or losers, but partners walking together toward peace."
After the meeting, President Mbeki took off to Benin for a working visit
where after he will proceed to Ghana to attend the 50th Anniversary of
independence.
For more information, please contact:
Mukoni Ratshitanga
Cell: (012) 300 5436
Cell: 082 300 3447
Issued by: The Presidency
5 March 2007
