Talks between the government and opposition parties, dubbed "the republican dialogue," were held over the weekend in the seaside town of Grand-Bassam according to reports in today's press.
Fraternite Matin (pp. 2-5) underscored that the two-day session, advocated by the Ivorian Premier Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio, was primarily aimed at providing the framework for a permanent dialogue between the Ivorian government and the opposition. "Building democracy not only calls for government actions but also the commitment of the opposition which has its role," the paper reported Mr. Mamadou Koulibaly, former speaker of the Ivorian Parliament and president of the LIDER party as saying. According to the daily, four topics were on the agenda of the meeting which brought together government officials and Ivorian political shareholders. Discussions included the setting up of what should be a permanent platform between the government and opposition parties, the reshuffling of the Independent Electoral Commission and the release of political detainees.
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