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| Africa: West |
| U.N. Mulls Deployment in Ivory Coast |
| 2004-02-05 |
| The U.N. Security Council asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday to prepare for possible deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping operation in war-divided Ivory Coast, but the United States and France are still at odds over a U.N. force. Surprise meter reads ’0.000’ once again. The council voted unanimously to extend the small U.N. military liaison mission in Ivory Coast until Feb. 27 along with U.N. authorization for 1,000 West African troops and more than 4,000 French troops helping to keep the peace in the country. Last month, France circulated a draft resolution calling for a 6,240-strong U.N. force to replace the West African troops in the war-divided nation - the force size recommended by Annan. Paris initially pressed for a U.N. decision by Feb. 4 and now wants one by Feb. 27. But the United States, which pays 27 percent of the U.N. peacekeeping budget, has expressed reservations about the size of the proposed force, and says it wants to examine the justification for sending U.N. troops there. For example, is there a peace to keep? A U.S. official said Wednesday that Washington is in the middle of trying to evaluate information provided by the U.N. Secretariat, including a new memo on the need for civilian police. The United States will make a determination when its evaluation process is completed, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. How ’bout factoring in whether the rebels were aided and abetted by the French a while back? Annan told reporters Wednesday that he discussed the request for new U.N. peacekeeping operations in Ivory Coast and Burundi with top Bush administration officials and Congressional leaders during his visit to Washington on Tuesday. "They were forthcoming," Annan said. "I sense that we will get their support. There are some problems - technical issues that may have to be worked out - but they are supportive." Kofi’s just so perceptive, this should be money in the bank. China’s U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya, the current Security Council president, said council members "still do not have a common position" on a U.N. force for Ivory Coast and need more time. "I think the (U.N.) Secretariat and many African countries feel that the situation on the ground in Ivory Coast needs help from the international community," he said. How about 6,000 Chinese troops? That would be interesting. In his report last month recommending a U.N. force, the secretary-general said West African peacekeepers are overstretched and requests for more money from donor nations haven’t been answered Unlike in 2003 when the French took the government’s authority away from them. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 Trust me cingold it not near as important as your explanation of the McDonalds hot coffee case. It was something of an eye opener. I've stopped the dawgs from barking at lawyer packs. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-5 3:33:43 PM |
| #2 It would be interesting... 30% would immediately dessert and in 5 mounths own 55% percent of the country. LOL. Shipman, you've really got to warn people about your posts. I just about choked to death on my lunch and I still can't stop laughing . . . |
| Posted by: cingold 2004-2-5 1:48:07 PM |
| #1 How about 6,000 Chinese troops? That would be interesting. It would be interesting... 30% would immediately dessert and in 5 mounths own 55% percent of the country. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-5 7:11:30 AM |