The President

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations.

After consultations among the members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council:

"The Security Council reiterates its full support for the International Working Group (IWG) and endorses its fourth final communiqué. It commends Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny for his efforts to implement the road map established by the IWG in accordance with resolution 1633 (2005). The Security Council reiterates its full support for him. It also welcomes the cooperation between the Prime Minister and the President.

"The Security Council also endorses the arbitration by the High Representative for Elections according to which the election of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Bureau is in compliance with the Pretoria Agreement. It urges the Ivorian parties to ensure the effective functioning of the IEC as soon as possible.

"The Security Council also underscores the imperative to guarantee the independence and neutrality of Radio Television Ivoirienne (RTI).

"The Security Council urges the Ivorian State authorities to facilitate, notably in the west, the return of humanitarian agencies and organization.

"The Security Council will review at the beginning of March the progress made in the implementation of resolution 1633 (2005) and the decisions of the IWG. It will pay special attention to the functioning of the IEC, to the steps taken in order to guarantee unhindered and equitable access to RTI, and to the launch of disarmament operations and the identification process."

This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2006/9.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.