Embassy NewsCentre

The large American delegation led by Ambassador Aubrey Hooks concluded their eight day mission through the North and West of Cote d’Ivoire in a meeting with New Forces leaders in Bouake.  The tour included visits to thirteen towns and covered over 3,000 kilometers, making it by far the longest trip by any high-level diplomat to the region.  Ambassador Hooks said he was encouraged about the prospects for quickly moving ahead with identification and disarmament, after extensive exchanges with the New Forces leadership.

“I have witnessed and heard first hand the strong demand by those living in the North and West for peace and reunification of the country without delay.  I am encouraged that the New Forces and Ivoirian political leaders are hearing this message loud and clear and will act upon it,” remarked Ambassador Hooks has he toured a market in Bouake.  “In our meetings, the New Forces declared that the time has come to rapidly move forward with the tasks that remain in order to reunify the country and hold credible and transparent elections.  However, delays and defis must not allow us to loose sight of the substantial progress that has been made.  I return to Abidjan more hopeful about the peace process.”

The Ambassador emphasized in his travels that as a result of this progress towards peace, the American Embassy will look to expand its outreach and work in the North and West.  American Cultural Center Director David Andresen will travel to Bouake next week to run several programs, the first since the present conflict started in 2002. On the humanitarian front, the United States’ Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s 2.5 billion CFA program in North and West, will be officially launched in August.