allAfrica.com: Côte d'Ivoire: American Embassy's National Daily Press Review (Page 1 of 1)

This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Today, Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt's meeting with Ivorian former President Henri Konan Bedie yesterday, was widely reported in several news dailies, including pro-opposition and independent newspapers. The papers also reported on elections; the three-day congress of the Rally of the Republicans (RDR) party; and the government suspension of the operations of Radio France International (RFI) -- a French public broadcaster, transmitting on FM in Abidjan.

1. In a front page story, L'inter (a privately-owned daily) asserted that France and the United States are "favorable for the delay" of the Cote d'Ivoire presidential elections, which was originally planned to be held later in June this year. According to the paper, the US Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Wanda L. Nesbitt's comment to the press after her meeting with Henri Konan Bedie, the Ivorian ex-President and leader of the PDCI-RDA, supports this assertion. On the specifics of the discussions, the paper quoted the Ambassador as saying, "We talked about the current situation in Cote d'Ivoire, preparations of the upcoming elections and the importance of these elections for Cote d'Ivoire." Responding to a question on whether the polls should take place on June 2008 or not, the paper quoted Ambassador Nesbitt as saying, "The most important thing is that the elections should be well conducted, that all the preparation should be put in place. If they happen in June, that is good. If they come one or two months later, I think everybody can understand. Other people have already spoken about it; most important is that elections should be conducted this year in Cote d'Ivoire." [Reminder - On January 28, the Press Review carried media reports on French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's pronouncement on the date of the elections. Kouchner said: "It is not that serious if the presidential elections are pushed back by a month or two due to technical obstacles."]

2. The meeting between the Ambassador and Bedie was also a front-page story in 24 Heures (a daily close to the opposition). The story focused on the Ambassador's position on the transparency and fairness of the elections. The paper quoted the Ambassador as saying, "There is a need to organize elections this year... It is important that the elections be transparent and fair. For this reason, all measures must be put in place to ensure that the polls are well prepared."

3. Nord-Sud Quotidien (a daily close to the opposition) and Le Nouveau Reveil (a daily close to the PDCI-RDA party) also carried stories on the meeting between Ambassador Nesbitt and the Ivorian former President. "Well-organized elections must take place this year," Le Nouveau Reveil quoted the US diplomat as saying.

4.More on elections, Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily) devoted its front-page to a statement made yesterday by the Prime Minister's spokesperson, Meite Sindou, who elaborated on "the obstacles" that are holding back the electoral process in Cote d'Ivoire. The paper reported on Sindou's assessment of the peace process and the decrees that Sindou says need to be signed to accelerate the identification process. According to the paper, Sindou said, "One of these decrees should be the one defining how the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), the National Statistics Institute (INS), and SAGEM [a French firm that has been appointed as the technical operator for the identification program] should operate."

5. On the three-day congress of the RDR party, which starts today, a big headline in Le Jour Plus (a daily close to the opposition) read "ADO's [Alassane Dramane Ouattara] campaign trail has set off." According to the paper, this congress has many objectives, and the most important one is how the party, which has been fighting for democracy for the past 14 years, can secure power. The paper further commented that this congress is set to rekindle "hope" amongst supporters of the party.

6. In a front-page story, Fraternite Matin said that the CNCA (Conseil National de la Communication Audiovisuelle) - a government broadcasting regulation committee - has imposed a ban on Radio France International (RFI) -- a French public broadcaster, transmitting on FM in Abidjan for "not respecting" an agreement signed between the two sides, two years ago. The suspension is effective January 31, 2008. The paper published a statement issued by the CNCA relating to the reason for the suspension. Excerpts said: "According to a deal signed on May 12, 2006, RFI agreed to pay 9 million CFA Francs in penalty fees for publishing false information, and to appoint a permanent correspondent to ensure a balance report of Cote d'Ivoire." According to the paper, even though RFI has paid the penalty fees it has not appointed a permanent correspondent.

Media on Embassy's Activities

Fraternite Matin and Le Matin d'Abidjan (a daily close to Gbagbo) reported positively on a conference organized by the US Embassy on the book: "Forgiveness in international politics: An alternative road to peace." Prior to the conference, the US Embassy had presented books to the National Islamic Council of Cote d'Ivoire. The donation was a subject of positive news in 24 Heures and Le Nouveau Reveil (both pro-opposition newspapers).

Radio Al-Bayane - a Muslim radio station and Radio Catholic National in Abidjan also carried positive reports on another Embassy-sponsored conference that focused on the role of the religion in the community. The program featured five religious leaders who had participated in two IV programs in 2006 and 2007.

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