Pope calls for intensified efforts for lasting peace in Ivory Coast

Published: 2004-01-12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II urged that efforts under way to bring about peace and reconciliation in Ivory Coast be continued and intensified -- asking that "the dialogue of weapons make way for the weapon of dialogue." The pope's appeal came in his address Jan. 10 to Ivory Coast's new ambassador to the Holy See, Kouame Benjamin Konan, as the envoy presented his credentials. Ivory Coast slipped into chaos in September when soldiers, about to be demobilized, rebelled against the government of President Laurent Gbagbo and took control of the northern half of the West African nation. But much of the fighting has stopped since government and rebel forces have stuck to a cease-fire accord. In early January, top military leaders of Ivory Coast agreed on a plan to disarm and demobilize some of their forces. The pope said there was no doubt disarmament would help stabilize the country. He also asked that the process of national reconciliation be stepped up. The peace process broke new ground in January 2003 with a deal brokered by France that created a government of national unity, which included representatives from rebel factions.

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