Accra, Feb. 14, GNA - The United Nation's (UN) Secretary General's Representative in Cote d'Ivoire, Mr Pierre Schori on Tuesday conferred with President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu, on the crisis in the West African country.

They exchanged views on ways to prevent the current volatile political and security situation in the country from escalating. "The situation in Cote d'Ivoire now is difficult and must be prevented from further deteriorating", Mr Schori said. He praised Ghana for its contribution to peace efforts in the strive-torn country through political and diplomatic actions and for sending peacekeepers there.

President Kufuor noted that the UN Secretary General had been fully engaged in efforts at bringing peace to Cote d'Ivoire. He had been supportive of sub-regional and regional efforts at brokering peace among the warring factions.

He said it was, therefore, appropriate that Mr Schori was in Ghana to plot the way forward for achieving lasting resolution of the conflict.

Cote d'Ivoire, the world's leading producer of cocoa, has been divided into two, with the Government of President Laurent Gbabgo in charge of the Southern part of the country and rebels calling themselves, the New Forces, in control of the North.