Remarks After Meeting With President Laurent Gbagbo

(13:30 GMT)

DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE: Good afternoon. I just wanted to say that I had a very good conversation with President Gbagbo. I have emphasized the question of the implementation of the Ouagadougou Accord and also the strong traditional friendship that exists between the United States and Cote d’Ivoire. I mentioned that there is a strong hope and expectation in my country that the different steps envisaged in the Ouagadougou accord must be carried out as quickly as possible. And I expressed the hope that in my next trip to Cote d’Ivoire, the electoral process will have already been completed.