“I leave Ivory Coast with great hope,” says UN envoy YJ Choi
The representative of UN Secretary General in Ivory Coast, Young-jin Choi, who leaves Abidjan on 31 August, after four years at the head of the UN mission (UNOCI) says he’s leaving the country "with great hope."
The South Korean at a farewell dinner hosted by the Ivorian government, noted that the time had come for him to leave with the feeling of fulfillment of duty.
“Every country has its history and for Ivory Coast, we lived with great hope,” said Mr Choi, expressing optimism for the country, which just emerged from a severe post-election crisis.
On behalf of the Government, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Kablan Duncan paid tribute to Mr Choi praising him for responsibly conducting an “open and transparent” presidential election in Ivory Coast.
The Ivorian foreign minister raising a toast said: "You leave the Ivory Coast, but the Ivory Coast will never leave you."
YJ Choi was among 65 personalities decorated on August 7 by President Alassane Ouattara, at a ceremony to mark the country's 51st Independence Day, for their contribution to the resolution of the Ivorian crisis.
He was raised to the distinction of Grand Officer of the Order, together with Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, Youssouf Bakayoko, Independent Electoral Commission chairman and Jean-Marie Gervais Kacou (Diplomat).
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