23.12.2010 Official Journal of the European Union L 341/45 COUNCIL DECISION 2010/801/CFSP of 22 December 2010 amending Council Decision 2010/656/CFSP renewing the restrictive measures against Cote d’Ivoire THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof, Whereas: 1 On 29 October 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/656/CFSP  renewing the restrictive measures against Cote d'Ivoire (1). On 13 December, the Council emphasised the importance of the Presidential election held on 31 October and 28 November 2010 for the return of peace and stability in Cote d'Ivoire and declared it to be imperative that the sovereign wish expressed by the Ivorian people be respected. The Council further decided to adopt 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, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Decision 2010/656/CESP is hereby amended as follows: 1. ) Article 4 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 4 1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into, or transit through, their territories of: (a) the persons referred to in Annex I and designated by the Sanctions Committee, who constitute a threat to the peace and national reconciliation process in Cote d'Ivoire, in particular those who block the implemen- tation of the Linas-Marcoussis and Accra Il Agreements, any other person determined as responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humani- tarian law in Cote d'Ivoire on the basis of relevant information, any other person who publicly incites hatred and violence and any other person determined by the Sanctions Committee to be in violation of the measures imposed by paragraph 7 of UNSCR 1572(2004); (b) the persons referred to in Annex II who are not included in the list in Annex I and who are obstructing the process of peace and national reconciliation, and in particular who are jeopardising the proper outcome of the electoral process. OJ L 285, 30.10.2010, p. 28. 2. Paragraph 1 shall not oblige a Member State to refuse its own nationals entry into its territory. 3. Paragraph 1(a) shall not apply where the Sanctions Committee determines that: (a) travel is justified on the grounds of urgent humanitarian need, including religious obligations; (b) an exemption would further the objectives of the UNSC Resolutions for peace and national reconciliation in Cote d’Ivoire and stability in the region. 4. Paragraph 1 shall be without prejudice to the cases where a Member State is bound by an obligation of inter- national law, namely: (i) as a host country to an international intergovernmental organisation; (i) as a host country to an international conference convened by, or under the auspices of, the UN; (ili) under a multilateral agreement conferring privileges and immunities; or (iv) under the 1929 Treaty of Conciliation (Lateran pact) concluded by the Holy See (State of the Vatican City) and Italy. 5. Paragraph 4 shall be considered as applying also in cases where a Member State is host country to the Organi- sation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). 6.  The Council shall be duly informed in all cases where a Member State grants an exemption pursuant to paragraphs 4 or 5. 7. Member States may grant exemptions from the measures imposed under paragraph 1(b) where travel is justified on the grounds of urgent humanitarian need, or on grounds of attending intergovernmental meetings, including those promoted by the European Union, or hosted by a Member State holding the Chairmanship-in- office of the OSCE, where a political dialogue is conducted that directly promotes democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Cote d'Ivoire. 8. A Member State wishing to grant exemptions referred to in paragraph 7 shall notify the Council in writing. The exemption shall be deemed to be granted unless one or more of the Council members raises an objection in writing within two working days of receiving notification of the proposed exemption. Should one or more Council members raise an objection, the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide to grant the proposed exemption.