PSC/PR/Comm.2(LXXIII) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 73RD MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE The Peace and Security Council of the African Union, at its 73rd meeting held on 16 and 19 March 2007, adopted the following decision on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire: Council, 1. Takes note of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire [PSC/PR/2(LXXIII)]; 2. Recalls decision Assembly/AU/Dec.145(VIII) adopted by the 8th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa, on 29 and 30 January 2007, urging the Ivorian parties, with the support of ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations and the international community, to redouble efforts to bring the peace process to its logical conclusion on the basis of resolution 1721(2006) of the United Nations Security Council, through direct dialogue as proposed by President Laurent Gbagbo and supported by ECOWAS and the African Union; 3. Welcomes the signing, on 4 March 2007, of the Ouagadougou Political Accord, between President Laurent Gbagbo and Mr. Guillaume Kigbafori Soro, SecretaryGeneral of the Forces Nouvelles, under the facilitation of President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, in his capacity as the current Chairperson of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. In this respect, Council pays tribute to President Compaoré for his tireless efforts which made it possible to successfully conclude the direct dialogue; 4. Commends the Ivorian parties signatory to the Ouagadougou Political Accord for the spirit of compromise and the sense of responsibility they have displayed. Council urges all the Ivorian political forces to support the Accord with a view to promoting reconciliation, as well as facilitating the return of lasting peace in Cote d’Ivoire; 5. Requests the signatory parties to implement, in good faith and in accordance with the timetable annexed to the Accord, the commitments entered into, in order, with the support of the international community, including the United Nations and its Security Council, to speed up the reconciliation and peace process in Côte d’Ivoire, which should lead to the organisation of free, open, transparent and democratic elections; 6. Takes note of the recommendations made by the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at its meeting held in Ouagadougou on 16 March 2007. In this respect, Council: - decides to fully endorse the Ouagadougou Political Accord and recommends to the United Nations Security Council to endorse the said Accord,