[ 2013-02-06 ]

Barack Obama

US extends State of Emergency for Ivory Coast
US President Barack Obama says he sees Ivory Coast
as a threat despite political gains made by the
West African Country.

He has therefore extended by one year its National
Emergency it declared against Côte d'Ivoire in
2006.

A statement from the White House and cited by
Myjoyonline.com says “the unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security and
foreign policy of the United States” imposed by
the Ivorian crisis is still palpable despite
remarkable improvement in security situation in
the West African country following the coming into
power of President Alassane Ouattara in May 2011.

The measures taken in 2006, including blocking the
property of certain persons contributing to the
conflict in Côte d'Ivoire still holds, Barack
Obama said in the statement.

The following is the full statement.

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH
RESPECT
TO THE SITUATION IN OR IN RELATION TO CÔTE
D'IVOIRE

On February 7, 2006, by Executive Order 13396, the
President declared a national emergency, pursuant
to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the unusual
and extraordinary threat to the national security
and foreign policy of the United States
constituted by the situation in or in relation to
Côte d'Ivoire and ordered related measures
blocking the property of certain persons
contributing to the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire.
The situation in or in relation to Côte d'Ivoire,
which has been addressed by the United Nations
Security Council in Resolution 1572 of November
15, 2004, and subsequent resolutions, has resulted
in the massacre of large numbers of civilians,
widespread human rights abuses, significant
political violence and unrest, and fatal attacks
against international peacekeeping forces.

Since the inauguration of President Alassane
Ouattara in May 2011, the Government of Côte
d'Ivoire has made progress in advancing democratic
freedoms and economic development. While the
Government of Côte d'Ivoire and its people
continue to make progress towards peace and
prosperity, the situation in or in relation to
Côte d'Ivoire continues to pose an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security and
foreign policy of the United States. For this
reason, the national emergency declared on
February 7, 2006, and the measures adopted on that
date to deal with that emergency, must continue in
effect beyond February 7, 2013. Therefore, in
accordance with section 202(d) of the National
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am
continuing for 1 year the national emergency
declared in Executive Order 13396. This notice
shall be published in the Federal Register and
transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

Source - MyjoyOnline

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