PRESS STATEMENT

STATE VISIT IN COTE D'IVOIRE
OF HIS EXCELLENCY M. AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH,
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE
YAMOUSSOUKRO, SEPTEMBER 30th - OCTOBER 3rd 2004

1- At the invitation of His Excellency M. Laurent Gbagbo, President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, His Excellency M. AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, paid a state visit to Yamoussoukro, in Côte d'Ivoire from September 30th to October 3rd , 2004

2. The Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone was accompanied by an important delegation comprising :
- Mr KANJI DARAMY, Presidential Spokesman
- Dr FRANCIS KAIKAI, Chairman , DACO/NCDDR
- Mr KANJA SESAY, Commissioner NaCSA

3. The President of Sierra Leone and his delegation received a warm and enthusiastic welcome as token of the brotherly relationship existing between the two peoples.

4. The Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone was welcomed at a solemn ceremony at the City Hall of Yamoussoukro and was given the key of the capital city by the Mayor, in the presence of His Excellency President Laurent Gbagbo.

5. After holding talks with the administrative committee of Parliament and members of the Constitutional Council, The Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone was given a guided tour of the economic and social infrastructure of Yamoussoukro as well as the new construction sites for the effective transfer of the political capital to Yamoussoukro.

6. The two Heads of State had private talks which was also attended by the Sierra Leonean Delegation as well as an ivorian delegation including The Senior Minister in charge of African Integration, Mr MEL EG THEODORE, The Minister of Defence, Mr AMANI RENE, and Mr DOUATI ALPHONSE, Minister in charge of the Parliamentary Affairs .

7. They discussed issues of bilateral relations and the current situation in Africa, especially in the sub-region.

8. With regards to the current political situation in Côte d'Ivoire, the two Heads of State acknowledged that despite the perception of delay in the implementation of the reforms contained in the Accra III Agreement, some significant progress has been made.

9. His Excellency Mr. Laurent Gbagbo informed his brother, His Excellency President Tejan Kabbah, of his intention to talk about this matter in his forthcoming national address. The President reiterated his commitment to ensure the complete implementation of the Accra III Agreement.

10. In this respect, the remaining bills will be submitted to the House of Parliament as soon as the ordinary sessions resume on October 6th 2004.

11 . The two Heads of State also shared their views on the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) program in Sierra Leone and have agreed on a strong collaboration between the experts from both sides.

12. President Kabbah urged the different signatories of the Accra III Agreement, in the light of the recent declaration of the Security Council, to participate effectively in the implementation of the peace process.

13. They also highly appreciated the presence and the very important part played by the international community in advancing the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire as well as in the sub-region.

14. Regarding the security situation, the Heads of State agreed to intensify and harmonize their efforts in the fight against banditry and cross-border criminal activities, the proliferation and flow of light weapons.

15. The Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone expressed to President Laurent GBAGBO his warm and sincere thanks and those of his delegation for the brotherly welcome they received.

16. President Kabbah invited his brother and friend, President Laurent GBAGBO, to pay him a state visit in the Republic of Sierra Leone on a date to be arranged through diplomatic channels.

Yamoussoukro, October 2nd 2004