Telephonic Press Conference Call with Francophone African Journalists and DAS William Fitzgerald addressing Cote d’Ivoire Issues

February 3, 2011

IS Teko Folli and some journalists during the telephonic press conference (Photo: Yacouba Soro/US Embassy)

A view of the participants (Photo: Yacouba Soro/US Embassy)

On Feb. 3 2011, PAS invited a dozen of local and international journalists for a telephonic press conference with DAS William Fitzgerald who spoke on the Ivorian political crisis. The program was another opportunity to stress the USG’s contribution but also its position in efforts being deployed by the international community to resolve this crisis. Mr. Fitzgerald used the occasion to reiterate the United States’ support to Alassane Ouattara, who was elected by 54 percent of the votes cast; also the United States position to favor a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Mr. Fitzgerald also spoke about human rights issues and the AU panel trying to find a solution to the crisis.

Mr. Fitzgerald’s statements, especially the USG’s position on the crisis received positive reactions from pro-Ouattara’s media outlets which welcomed the U.S. position recognizing Alassane Ouattara as the president-elect of Cote d’Ivoire. However, dailies close Gbagbo criticized the U.S. government’s position saying this could derail the mediation efforts being deployed by the African Union (AU) to resolve the crisis.