Brussels, 23/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - According to Catherine Ashton, an astonishingly lengthy discussion preceded the adoption by the Foreign Affairs Council of the conclusions on Sudan on Monday. Impending partition of the biggest country in Africa cannot be ruled out if this proves to be the will of the Sudanese people in January's referendum on self-determination of South Sudan and the status of Abyei (EUROPE 10260). On Monday evening, Catherine Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, declared that the EU wanted to see the comprehensive peace agreement implemented in full and the results of the referendum respected. She also declared that the EU was eager to assure the Sudanese people that they were able to express and realise their wishes. The substance of the unanimous conclusions were subsequently summarised to the press in these terms.
Ashton announced on this occasion that a taskforce was being set up to bring together the different elements included in a European response to the situation in Sudan, which would work together with the Sudanese authorities. The EU is determined to accompany this country in the final preparations before the referendum and beyond. Catherine Ashton explained that she was aware that the question of regional stability is very important and that she had, in this connection, spoken at the EU-US summit with Ban Ki-moon.
This taskforce will facilitate reflection on the EU's future engagement with key partners of Sudan; during the pre-referendums period, with regard to security and preparing for the different possible referendum results but without influencing what these results would be. The high representative explained that it was up to the Sudanese to decide their own future and that the EU would support the way in which this was implemented. Several possible options are envisaged.
In its conclusions, the EU reaffirms the need for peaceful and credible referendums, whose outcomes reflect the will of the people and are respected by all.
The Council has expressed the full support of the EU for the work accomplished by the former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, the African Union mediator, “in view of a framework agreement between the parties on the provisions that still need to be made for the comprehensive peace agreement and the period following the referendums”. The Council underlines the EU's determination to work intensively during the vital weeks ahead in support of the negotiation process, and of the EU and UN efforts. Ashton insisted that the EU remained optimistic but was still concerned by the situation in Darfur, including the kidnapping of humanitarian personnel. She reiterated the fact that the EU wanted peace in Darfur, as well as the full co-operation of Khartoum with the International Criminal Court. The situation in Sudan will be included in the political questions on the agenda of the third day of the EU-Africa summit (29-30 November, Libya). The EU27 foreign affairs ministers have agreed to re-examine this subject in December. (A.N./transl.fl)