U.N. chief: Africa’s course could be set in Ivory Coast

By Matthew Hoye, CNN Congressional Producer

Washington (CNN) — While in Washington on Thursday for talks with U.S. House and Senate leaders, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon predicted the outcome of the crisis in the Ivory Coast would set the tone for other nations in Africa.

“What happens in Cote d’Ivoire has huge implications for the continent that will have 16 presidential elections this year,” he said.

Ban had a firmly worded message for self-declared Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo: “This is his last opportunity to gracefully exit from this. It is absolutely necessary at this time, that before too late, he has to cede his power to a democratically elected leader.”

Ban also said the international community “will continue to protect the innocent civilians and we will try to bring those who commit mass atrocities to justice.”

Gbagbo has refused to cede power to opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, who won a national election in November. The feud sparked an all-out civil war that has come to a head in recent weeks, as opposition forces surrounded the capital and forced Gbagbo to retreat to the basement of his Abidjan residence.

Ivory Coast was not the only thing on Ban’s agenda during his visit to Washington, as he also discussed Afghanistan with the U.S. congressmen.

He thanked the United States for its “support and solidarity. Afghanistan is a critical mission at a critical time. We will not be deterred in our work and our people need to be protected.”

The South Korean also discussed the ongoing budget negotiations on Capitol Hill. He said he understands the need for fiscal restraint but warned, “At the same time we need to have the robust financial support from the United States.

“Hard economic times mean we must all tighten our belts. We must do better with less,” Ban said. He added: “(I’ve) instructed my senior advisers to come up with concrete plans to reduce our budget by 3%.”

Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the secretary- general at the Capitol. “The events that are unfolding around the world are not ordinary by any stretch of the imagination. This is a remarkable time. And I commented to the secretary-general that in all of my years in the Senate, I can’t remember a time where there had been as many places where the United Nations is stepping up to play as critical a role as it is right now.

“In Afghanistan, in peacekeeping in Darfur, in Haiti, in Libya, in the Sudan in earthquake relief.” Kerry said, “On a global basis, this is really a moment of remarkable challenge.”

Kerry warned other lawmakers that now is not the time to trim American support for the U.N. or reduce the U.S. presence overseas.

“Let me emphasize while some people in the Congress are talking about retrenching and reducing America’s presence on a global basis, in particular in reducing America’s support for international institutions. I want to firmly state how unwise and even dangerous I believe that kind of move would take,” he said.

Kerry also thanked the Ban for his “significant leadership” in rounding up support for the Security Council resolution that authorized the international community to act in Libya. “That is important leadership at a critical time,” said Kerry.