UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement, accusing the Belarusian authorities of violating the arms embargo, imposed on Cote d'Ivoire in 2004. According to the UN, Minsk began to illegally supply military helicopters to the armed groups, supporting the President of Côte d'Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, not recognized by the world community.
According to the press service of the UN secretary general, delivery of three helicopter gunships, as well as certain related materials, has been scheduled. According to the UN, the first batch of military equipment was delivered from Belarus in the capital Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire on February 27, following the alleged delivery, scheduled for February 28.
Ban Ki-moon said that the supply of military equipment to the militias, supporting an illegitimate authority in the country, was a serious violation of international sanctions. UN Secretary General warned the authorities of both countries that both the arms suppliers and the customers would be applied all necessary measures for violating the embargo «within the existing mandate, aimed to ensure the impossibility of using the delivered equipment.»
Ban Ki-moon suggested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council committee, responsible for imposing sanctions.
As Telegraf previously reported, Civil War took place in Côte d’Ivoire from 2002 to 2004. In late November 2010 the country hosted the second round of the presidential elections, the first one since the Civil War. As a result of the election, both the candidates — incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and opposition leader Ouattara — declared their victory. The countries of the world community, primarily the U.S., recognized Ouattara as head of the country and call on Laurent Gbagbo to resign. However, the latter does not agree to leave the Office, resorting to the army’s support.
UN officials have previously warned that Cote d’Ivoire is on the brink of another civil war as the violence, caused by a dispute over the presidential election results, is spreading from the city of Abidjan to other areas of the country.
