LEAD: Clinton leaves Ivory Coast after talks with president

Jan 17, 2012, 13:48 GMT

Abidjan - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton left Ivory Coast on Tuesday, where she met with President Alassane Ouattara and several members of his cabinet.

Clinton, the first secretary of state to visit Ivory Coast since 1986, held talks that addressed the outlook of the country, which is recovering from a four-month long conflict that broke out last November, killing 3,000 and displacing many more.

'I am surprised to see how quick people in Ivory Coast move from violence to successful and peaceful MP elections in December,' she said.

'25 years ago, when the last US Secretary of State visited Ivory Coast, the country was the engine for growth of the whole West African region. After the post election violence that has hit the country, I believe it can be again, the vital engine of development for the West African region,' she said.

She also addressed US interests in the francophone country. Ivory Coast is the region's biggest producer of cocoa, some of which is bought by the United States for processing.

Clinton said the US would support Ivory Coast in boosting the economy.

'My presence here is to tell to American businessmen that there are many investment opportunities in Ivory Coast. They should open their eyes to grab these opportunities,' she said.

In response, President Ouattara said the government is trying to build democracy and infrastructure.

'We have made an effort to build peace, and our army is currently undergoing complete restructuring,' he said.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Catherine Bragg was also in Ivory Coast Tuesday, in order to assess the humanitarian situation one year after the conflict.

'I applaud the return of over a half a million people in the last nine months, testimony to the increasing security and the resolution of the crisis and the international support, and a tribute to the hard work of the international community,' Bragg said in a statement.

In Togo, Clinton will meet with President Faure Gnassingbe in what will be the first ever visit from a US Secretary of State to the country.

Togo won a seat on the UN Security Council for 2012 and 2013.

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