UN Renews Sanctions on Ivory Coast

Prensa Latina, 16 December 2005

New York, Dec 16 (PL) The UN Security Council has renewed sanctions imposed on the Ivory Coast, including seizure of arms and prohibition to import raw diamonds for another year.

The resolution of the UN highest body, unanimously agreed, establishes that any person violating the sanctions, human rights, hampering the peace process, or publicly inciting violence would be punished.

Personal restrictions prohibit any one constituting a threat to the process of national reconciliation from traveling, and from accessing their own financial resources.

The UN Security Council stated these restrictions call for the commitment of the rest of the countries to avoid direct and indirect provisions, arms traffic, or any other goods related to them.

The Ivory Coast is currently divided in two: the south controlled by the government and the north ruled by the armed opposition, including UN and French forces.

The Security Council expressed deep concern at the deterioration of that African state, condemned the attacks suffered by its people, and called for the immediate implementation of the peace agreement already signed.