Cote d'Ivoire: President Gbagbo says arms purchase for dissuasive purposes RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE Wednesday, May 21, 2003 John Kufuor, the Ghanaian head of state and current ECOWAS chairman, yesterday gave the green light for the deployment of a neutral intervention force in western Cote d'Ivoire. The force may be composed of both ECOWAS and French Operation Unicorn peacekeepers currently in Cote d'Ivoire. A special ECOWAS summit is scheduled for 28 May in Abuja, Nigeria, to formalize this agreement. Meanwhile, President Laurent Gbagbo says he has bought arms to dissuade potential enemies. (Begin Gbagbo recording) The weapons that we have purchased and already paid for in full will soon be delivered to us. They are not meant for this war, which to me now belongs to the past. However, I do not want any similar situation to reoccur. That is why I have purchased these weapons. The reason why we are not hiding them is that we want to dissuade anyone from attacking us. Therefore, we have to show what we possess. If one is not out to dissuade people, then one hides whatever one possesses. I could have given instructions for the aircraft to land in Daloa (laughter) or in San Pedro. I could have done that. But they are landing here (Abidjan) on purpose so that everyone can see what we have now. This is also what dissuasion is all about. If you want to dissuade, then you have to show off (laughter). Now you understand.