Leaders of the six-member mediation group of the ECOWAS High Level Contact Group in the Ivorian crisis have upheld the ECOWAS and African Union principles of non-recognition of governments created out of force. They made this clear in Lome on Monday when they rejected any succession to power in Cote d'Ivoire by unconstitutional means. They however, expressed their appreciation at the readiness and commitment of the protagonists to end the armed conflict through negotiations and dialogue for a peaceful and lasting solution.

This was contained in a 29-point communiqu? adopted at the end of their meeting in Lome to finalise a memorandum on the crisis to be submitted to the next peace talks scheduled for France this weekend.

The leaders of Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Mali insisted on the factions respecting the terms of the agreement leading to a definite and complete cessation of hostilities and the quick and effective return of peace to Cote d'Ivoire.

The communiqu? deplored the persistent proliferation of light weapons in the sub-region and appealed to ECOWAS member states to comply with the obligations contained in the moratorium on their import, export and the manufacture adopted in Abuja, Nigeria on October 31, 1998.

They noted with regret the use of ex-servicemen and child soldiers in on-going conflicts, which posed a serious danger and constant threat to peace and security in the sub-region and urged the International Community to support appropriate policies aimed at their re-integration into civil life.

They also called on the International Community to support the signing of a global peace and reconciliation agreement, a reconstruction programme for Cote d'Ivoire and the disarming, discharging and the re-integration of ex-servicemen and child soldiers after the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The leaders expressed their appreciation to President Jacques Chirac and the French Government for their commitment and determination to help in finding a solution to the crisis and the restoration of security, peace and political stability in Cote d'Ivoire.

President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria said, conflicts, disputes and violence in Africa are the result of perceived injustices. It is therefore the responsibility of leaders to ensure peace, harmony, justice, equity and participation in governance in their countries. This they can do by nurturing and sustaining democracy to survive in the West African sub-region. He said most countries in the sub-region, had "in-built situations" that could endanger stability. Political and religious differences and poverty could be exploited to create conflict. He urged the leaders to initiate strategies to prevent their occurrence. "All should put their hands on deck to work towards the elimination or prevention of conflicts in the sub-region. The crisis in Cote d'Ivoire has not been completely solved, no concrete agreement has been reached and whatever agreements are reached, all should endeavour to work towards their implementation for peace to prevail,"

The Nigerian president urged his colleagues not to give up on the Ivorian crisis but to continue in their pursuit to achieve peace and harmony in the country and West Africa.

He said it was their responsibility to take the initiative to solve the crisis instead of allowing institutions and organisations from outside to initiate moves to solve it.

"When we allow outsiders to take the initiative to solve the crisis it would not be in our interest... We are the architects of our own fortune and misfortune. If any misfortune occurs in our countries it should not be blamed on the people. We should ensure peace prevails in our individual countries, the sub-region and the entire continent".

He commended the group for their achievement and said, "our performance has been wonderful because dealing with conflict resolution and management requires a lot of time, patience, understanding and tolerance and the group led by the Togolese President Eyadema has deployed and employed all these".

President Obsanjo also commended President Kufuor of Ghana for taking the initiative to hold the first meeting of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on the crisis.

President Eyadema said the mutiny in Cote d'Ivoire on September 19, last year, which degenerated into war, was a threat to the sub-region because of its complexity and consequences.

He said the meeting was an opportunity for the Group to review its achievements within the framework of the ECOWAS Mediation Protocol and to think about the real causes of the fratricidal conflict that had affected stability and hampered economic development in Cote d'Ivoire.

President Eyadema stressed the need for peace on the continent and said this could be achieved through dialogue instead of the use of arms and wars, which were the result of lack of understanding between people.

He said wars could end through mutual concessions from those involved and commended the protagonists for their willingness to talk openly and to forgive one another to build a new Cote d'Ivoire.

"I wish that the dialogue begun in Lome does not wane and that acts and behaviour of each group would be guided by the interest of Ivorians and the sub-region, which had suffered so much by the crisis... I hope the peace talks in France would be successful for Cote d'Ivoire to have the peace and political stability it had enjoyed over the years."

General Cheick Omar Diara, Deputy Executive Secretary of ECOWAS in-charge of political affairs, defence and security, who read the memorandum, said peace was invaluable, because "one could not win peace by arms yet one could win peace through negotiations and dialogue".

This was the essence of the collective security conceived within ECOWAS to spare member countries anarchy and insecurity.

General Diara stressed the need for the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol of Non-Aggression signed in Lagos, Nigeria on April 22, 1978 to spare the sub-region from fratricidal conflicts.

"All the efforts made since the outbreak of the present crisis in Cote d'Ivoire to help that sister nation find back the lost peace, security and stability are stemming from that philosophy."

General Diara said the success of actions undertaken within the framework of the ECOWAS High Level Contact Group and other levels were conditioned by the political will of Ivorians.

He called for the support of all peace-loving countries towards the initiative to bring peace to Cote d'Ivoire.