Hillary Clinton at the Youth and Community Leaders Reconciliation Roundtable Abidjan

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton walks out of the Center for Research and Action for Peace with Rev. Hyacinthe (L) and Quentin Kanyatsi (R) in Abidjan, January 17, 2012. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Remarks at the Youth and Community Leaders Reconciliation Roundtable

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Center for Research and Action for Peace

Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

January 17, 2012

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First, let me say how honored I am to be here with all of you who are seeking reconciliation and finding common ground. I want to thank Mr. Kanyatsi and your colleagues at Search for Common Ground and Father Loua and everyone here at CERAP. We know how hard it is to overcome differences and to work toward reconciliation. I want to thank you for sharing your stories with us today, and I want to thank those who were in the small play for so strongly illustrating what you are trying to do.
I am grateful we have two religious leaders here today who recognize the importance of inclusive dialogue. Your work makes me optimistic that your country, Cote d'Ivoire, and all Ivoirians can overcome the differences that have, for too long, hurt the progress of your nation. Our political or ethnic or religious differences are not as important as our common humanity. President Obama and I are very proud to support the work that is being done here. The United States has worked with many countries to overcome conflict and war. We know everyone has a role to play in deciding whether the future will be peaceful or not. Whether you are a president of a country, a minister or imam, a young man or a young woman, each person can decide whether to go on hating or to begin living together and working together.
So we are here today to applaud your work but to also recognize with you there is much more to be done. In the United States, we have people from every nation, every ethnicity, every religion in the world living and working together. It’s always a little surprising when people come to my country from their own country, where they did not get along with each other, and then they find themselves looking for someone from their country to share food, to share language, to share memories together. So it is our hope and our prayer that the work that is being done here will help build a new, strong, peaceful, prosperous Cote d'Ivoire for the young men and women and for all the children to come.
There is no more important work for Ivoirians or for any people anywhere in the world to find reconciliation. And the United States will remain your partner and your friend. We want to look to Cote d'Ivoire in the future as an example of how people can work together and how the differences are what make you more interesting, not put you apart and against each other.
So let me thank you for sharing your work with me and my colleagues, and we wish you a very bright and wonderful future for you individually and for this blessed country. Thank you.

Slideshow: Hillary Clinton Visits Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, and Cape Verde All in One Day!

Following the inauguration, yesterday, of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf  in Liberia,  Secretary Clinton flew to the Ivory Coast.  Amazingly, she visited three countries today before departing for Washington.  She spent a good deal of time with President Ouattara  of the Ivory Coast, then she flew to Togo where she was greeted by dancers outside the palace where she conferred with President Gnassingbe.  Finally, she touched down in Cape Verde where she stopped by to see Prime Minister Pereira Neves.   Whew!  This was a true whirlwind tour.
Safe home, Mme. Secretary.  See you tomorrow at the Awards for Corporate Excellence (to be livestreamed - follow the link).

Hillary Clinton’s Statement on Cote d’Ivoire

Gbagbo had best take heed! When HRC speaks, she means it! She is fiercely dedicated to people who are running to catch the democracy train. She is equally opposed to dictators who would retain power illegitimately and harm their own people in the process. The world has seen Hillary Clinton stand firm vis a vis her own President on the situation in Libya. Today she was called "presidential" and "Acting President" in the press. Gbagbo needs to take her words very seriously.

That said, I believe this nation and the world can ill afford to lose this powerful, action-oriented leader to retirement in a few years. She should be president - sooner rather than later. Enough of the "Hesitation Blues" in the White House. The NFZ should have been done earlier. Run, Hillary, Please? In 2012?

Statement on Cote d'Ivoire

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

March 18, 2011

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The United States condemns Laurent Gbagbo’s continued attacks on unarmed civilians in Cote d’Ivoire and we demand an immediate end to this brutality. Gbagbo’s indiscriminate violence against civilians cannot be tolerated. All individuals responsible for ordering or carrying out these heinous acts will have to answer for their actions.

Gbagbo’s claim that he represents the Ivoirian people belies his persistent refusal to participate in the peaceful transition recommended by the African Union. Gbagbo’s incendiary rhetoric, such as his recent call for civilians to take up arms against their fellow citizens, stands in stark contrast to President Ouattara’s appeal for calm and restraint among the Ivoirian people. Now is the time for all Ivoirians to embrace the path of peace and to unite in rebuilding Cote d’Ivoire so that future generations can enjoy the stability and prosperity that all Ivoirians deserve.

The United States is providing humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the growing violence, including a $4.5 million food aid contribution to the United Nations World Food Program in Cote d’Ivoire and a $7.5 million contribution for refugees in neighboring Liberia. We will continue to assist those affected by this violence and help put an end to the crisis.

Secretary Clinton's Statement on the Violence in Cote d'Ivoire

Violence in Cote d'Ivoire

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

March 4, 2011

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The United States strongly condemns Laurent Gbagbo’s acts of violence perpetrated against the people of Cote d’Ivoire, including his security forces’ attack yesterday on unarmed women demonstrators that left seven dead. Gbagbo and his forces have shown a callous disregard for human life and the rule of law, preying on the unarmed and the innocent. He should step aside immediately in the name of peace.

Gbabgo’s selfish effort to cling to power despite losing the election has elevated tensions and eroded the fundamental rights of Ivoirian civilians. Since December, Gbagbo has used security forces to attack the very people he claims to represent, and deprived Ivorian citizens of access to water and electricity. Indeed, Cote d’Ivoire’s most vulnerable citizens, its women and children, are suffering the most.

The United States calls for an immediate end to the violence. Military leaders, regime officials, and others responsible for directing or committing violent acts against civilians will have to answer for their actions.

Secretary Clinton's Remarks: Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the Situation in Cote d'Ivoire

Well, everyone has high-tailed it out of DC, and I hope this lovely lady has as well, but that has not stopped her from working today. Earlier today she issued a joint statement with Catherine Ashton about the post-electoral situation in Belarus, and a little while ago this appeared in my inbox. If this was important enough for her to issue tonight, then it is important enough to post here. Her statement on yet another election gone wrong.

Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the Situation in Cote d'Ivoire

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

December 23, 2010

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Today’s special session of the Human Rights Council concerning the ongoing crisis in Cote d’Ivoire underscored the international community’s commitment to ensure respect for human rights and to address serious abuses. We applaud the African Group for leading this session.

The United States joins the international community in condemning the growing violence, the grave human rights violations, and the deterioration of security in Cote d’Ivoire. We stand with the Council in calling for the immediate end to the violence and other abuses, and we will work to hold those responsible for these human rights violations accountable.

When the United States joined the Human Rights Council, we promised to work from within to improve its effectiveness as we strive to achieve our common goals. Today’s special session exemplifies this new approach and reaffirms that the Council has an important role to play on all issues where human rights are in question.

President Alassane Dramane Ouattara is the legitimately elected and internationally recognized leader of Cote d’Ivoire. We reiterate our call for former President Laurent Gbagbo to step down immediately. The rights of the Ivoirian people can only be fully realized when democracy is respected and the rule of law restored in Cote d’Ivoire.