French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has underscored the need to "turn the page" in the often lukewarm relations between Paris and Abidjan, while at the same time urging the two countries not to forget "what happened in the past," including violence against French nationals in 2004.
"I would like to see the page turned and I think we are moving in this direction," the chief French diplomat, who is currently on an official visit in the West African nation, told reporters in the commercial capital Abidjan Sunday.
The minister was referring to the deterioration of bilateral relations between France and Cote d'Ivoire since the former New Forces (FN) seized the northern part of the country in the wake of a failed coup against the regime of President Laurent Gbagbo in September 2002.
"I have forgotten nothing regarding the past," said Kouchner, who was addressing reporters at the end of a 48-hour visit to Coted'Ivoire, where he held discussions with key actors in the process of ending the crisis and organizing presidential elections later in the year.
Following the September 2002 botched coup, Cote d'Ivoire, which until then was one of the most stable democracies in sub-Saharan Africa, plunged into a deep political-military crisis that has left it divided into two almost equal parts for the last six years.
"There is nothing to forget, neither the events of Bouake, nor those of Abidjan, nor the misfortunes of others," said the French foreign minister, referring to both Ivorian and French victims of the 2004 violence.
In November 2004, nine French peacekeeping soldiers were killed and dozens of others injured when the Cote d'Ivoire air force launched an aerial raid on the rebel stronghold of Bouake.
In retaliation, the French army completely annihilated the country's air force in a series of events that culminated in violent anti-French demonstrations led by the so-called pro-Gbagbo "patriots," who besides looting businesses indiscriminately also attacked foreigners, especially those of French origin.
The violence, which quickly spread across the country like bushfire, forced the French government to order the evacuation of over8,000 foreigners, mostly French nationals, as atrocities continued in the economic capital Abidjan and Yamoussoukro, the political capital.
During this period, the French army was forced to fire to disperse a group of demonstrators that was threatening to attack foreigners at an Abidjan hotel. The incident lead to the death of at least twenty people, according to the French side, but the Ivorian government has always maintained that the death toll was in sixty.
The events and circumstances surrounding the incident, arguably the ugliest between the two countries, marked the climax of the Franco-Ivorian crisis and no French minister has set foot in Abidjan since January 2003.
"For Cote d'Ivoire and France, but also for Africa in general and for the establishment of a much-needed policy of reconciliation, I think it was necessary to ensure that this page is turned right here with you," said Kouchner, however ruling out a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Abidjan or his Ivorian counterpart in France in the near future.
"Nevertheless, the first step has been taken towards the normalization of ties," said the French diplomat, adding that he had, during "warm" discussions with president Gbagbo, raised issue of Franco-Canadian journalist Guy-Andre Kieffer who disappeared in Abidjan in 2004.
"The Head of State has assured me that he will see to it that the ongoing French inquiry to the matter will continue with the full support of local authorities," said the French foreign minister, adding that unraveling the case would help reassure the journalist's family.
The French minister said that he was "optimistic" on the continued progress in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement that was signed by President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, who was leader of the New Forces rebels, in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, in March 2007.
Kouchner, who refused to exclude "some unforeseen surprises" in the run-up to the polls, said that "France will support whomever will be elected president at the end of the polls," whose first round is scheduled to be held on November 30.
"It is imperative to ensure that access to polling stations and a minimum of level of security is guaranteed during the polls," according to Kouchner, who said that the disarmament of former combatants should not be a prerequisite for holding the election.
"I have the experience of overseeing peace processes and I can tell you that it takes time for everything to be accomplished," said the French foreign ministers, adding that the country has so far made remarkable progress in the search for lasting peace and stability.
Source: Xinhua
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