The Council exchanged views on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire following the recent presidential election. It adopted the following conclusions.
Emphasising the importance of the presidential election held on 31 October and 28 November for the return of Côte d'Ivoire to peace and stability, the Council recall that the sovereign wish expressed by the Ivorian people be respected.
It expresses its full support for the action of the United Nations in Côte d'Ivoire and congratulates Mr Alassan Ouattara on his election as President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. The Council calls for calm and responsibility, so that there can be a peaceful handover of power. It supports the firm and clear decisions in favour of democracy taken by the African Union and ECOWAS, as set out in the United Nations Security Council press statement of 8 December 2010.
The Council has considered how to react to the situation in Côte d'Ivoire. It has decided to adopt without delay targeted restrictive measures against those who are obstructing the process of peace and national reconciliation, and in particular who are jeopardising the proper outcome of the electoral process. Those measures will include a visa ban and an assets freeze. They will particularly target those leading figures who have refused to place themselves under the authority of the democratically elected President, of whom an initial list should be adopted rapidly.
The European Union has also decided to take measures in support of the democratically elected authorities. To this end, the Council invites the High Representative, with the support of the Commission, to make proposals to this effect.
The Council calls on all Ivorian leaders, both civilian and military, to work for a peaceful and rapid solution to the crisis and to ensure the security of the whole population, both Ivorians and foreigners. All those who use violence to oppose the democratic choice of the Ivorian people will be held responsible for their actions.