Brussels, 07/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - Karel De Gucht, European Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, whose criticism of crisis management in DRC gave rise to further polemic in Congo and incurred a warning from Kinshasa against any visa request, has the full support of José Manuel Barroso. Amadeu Altafaj Tardio, European Commission spokesman, was invited, on Tuesday 7 January, to comment before the European press on remarks by Karel De Gucht on 16 December before the EP development committee in Strasbourg. “Mr De Gucht spoke before the Parliament on behalf of the Commission. He expressed the Commission's opinion”, the spokesman said.
Speaking of the continuing crisis in Kivu during a debate on the Congo, De Gucht denounced “impunity in a vast non-state area where public authorities are not only unable to control the territory but where the representatives are themselves often part of the problem”. (A.N./transl.jl)