Brussels, 23/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 23 March, the EU27 foreign ministers and the two chairs of the EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly strongly condemned the coup d'état in Mali on 22 March, and the European Commission has suspended aid to the ACP states until further notice (the ACP group comprises countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific), as instructed by the EU Council of Ministers, under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement.
EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said he had decided to temporarily suspend aid and development operations carried out by the Commission in Mali until the situation becomes clearer, but this would not impact on humanitarian aid. Reiterating the call by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton for a rapid solution to the crisis, a return to law and order and the holding of democratic elections as soon as possible (see EUROPE 10580), Commissioner Piebalgs said that in recent years, Mali had made constant progress in terms of development, which can only be preserved in a stable, democratic environment. Given the security breakdown in the North of Mali and the famine that risks developing in the region, he urged all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and the respect of human life. Some €583 million has been earmarked for Mali under the European Development Fund for 2008-2013.
In a unanimous conclusions document, the Council of Ministers expressed deep concern about the deterioration of security in the Sahel and urged the EU high representative to speed up implementation of the holistic EU strategy for the Sahel. It called for an immediate end to violence and a release of state officials, the protection of civilians, the restoration of civil, constitutional government and the holding of democratic elections, as planned. The first round of presidential elections was scheduled for 29 April 2012, followed by a constitutional referendum and general elections. The ministers underlined the importance of respect of the territorial integrity of Mali, and repeated their call for an immediate ceasefire in the north of the country, along with inclusive dialogue, which the EU stands ready to support. Louis Michel and Musikari Kombo, the two co-chairs of the EU-ACP Parliamentary Assembly, issued a joint call on the international community to ensure that democracy is fully respected in Mali and the elected government goes back to managing the country's future.
ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States), the African Union, the United Nations, OIF, OCI and the International Human Rights Federation have all condemned the putsch, which they say is solely due to the inability of President Amadou Toumani Toure's regime to manage the crisis in the North of the country. (AN/transl.fl)