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The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon has lauded President Mills on his principled stance in resolving the Ivorian crisis. Mr Ban Ki-moon who paid a courtesy call on President Mills on Saturday, May 21, enroute to Ivory Coast to attend the investiture of President Alassane Ouattara, said President Mills showed astute leadership during the Ivorian crisis. Fighting broke out in Cote d�Ivoire after Mr Ouattara's predecessor Laurent Gbagbo refused to admit defeat following the presidential election in November 2010. President Mills in the midst of the Ivorian crisis opted for peace talks in resolving the Ivorian crisis rather than a military intervention proposed by ECOWAS to oust Laurent Gbagbo who refused to cede power to the internationally recognized President, Alassane Ouattara. In an interaction with President Mills at the Kotoka International Airport, Mr Ban Ki-moon urged President Mills to continue working assiduously with the ECOWAS and the African Union to help Ivory Coast regain its international status and respect that has been marred by months of bloody violence. �I want to really thank your leadership and your strong support for peace, democracy and your principled and strong commitment in resolving this crisis where many hundreds of people have been killed in this democracy struggle. I think this is really a historic moment and I would want to thank you for that�. Ban Ki-moon said. This is the first time the Secretary General of the United Nations is participating in the inauguration ceremony of any President in the world. More than 20 heads of state including Ghana�s President, John Evans Atta Mills and Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the former colonial power France are attending the inauguration of Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara. On his part President Mills said peace and unity is essential for the development of Cote d�Ivoire. President Mills assured the Secretary General of the United Nations of Ghana�s outmost support in partnering other countries to ensure that Cote d�Ivoire returns to normalcy.