Statement by H.E. Mr. Yoshifumi Okamura

Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations

Statement after the Vote (Cote d’Ivoire Sanctions and UNOCI)

28 April 2016

 

 

Mr. President,

 

          Thank you President. My permanent representative, Ambassador Yoshikawa, has asked me to read the following statement on the adoption of these two resolutions because I was personally involved in the solution to the Côte d’Ivoire crisis five years ago. In April of 2011 the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire reached its zenith. I was the ambassador to Japan in Côte d’Ivoire at that time and my own residence was attacked as the result of spiraling violence. The French army and UNOCI saved my life and the lives of my collages. I would like to take this opportunity to renew my thanks to the courageous operation of France at that time and the courageous actions of UNOCI. It is for that reason that I am very moved to be here today on this occasion.

 

          Japan welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolutions 2283 and 2284. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Permanent Mission of France for taking the lead in preparing the resolutions. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chair of the Sanctions Committee, the Permanent Representative of Uruguay, as well as the Group of Experts for their dedication to their work.

 

          Through the period of the sanctions regime, Cote d’Ivoire has brought remarkable and undeniable achievements in consolidating peace. Japan would like to commend Cote d’Ivoire for its perseverance in the effort of stabilizing the country. Some issues remain, but Japan trusts Cote d’Ivoire to address these issues and to take full ownership over them.

 

          We would like to pay tribute to UNOCI’s committed work towards peace over the past 12 years. The Security Council must make sure that UNOCI is closed as a success story for the UN Peacekeeping Operation as a whole. We hope that the government of Cote d’Ivoire and UNOCI will coordinate even more during this final cycle of its mandate.

 

          Japan will continue to contribute to consolidating peace and stability in Cote d’Ivoire as a member of the Security Council and we will continue to act as an important bilateral partner of Cote d’Ivoire as well.

 

          I thank you, Mr. President.

 (END)