Brussels, 23/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Union strongly condemns the coup d'état in Guinea-Bissau and demands the immediate reestablishment of the legitimate government, the completion of the interrupted democratic electoral process and the immediate restoration of constitutional order. EU27 foreign ministers, meeting on Monday 23 April in Luxembourg, reiterated this political message previously expressed by Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (see EUROPE 10595).
“Self-appointed transitional institutions will not be recognised, (…). The EU is ready to impose restrictive measures against individuals who continue to engage in or provide support for acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Guinea-Bissau”, Ashton said after the Council, summarising the content of the discussion for the press.
In its unanimous conclusions, the Council points out that it will not recognise any kind of arrangement that would allow the armed forces to continue to threaten or control the civil powers, and that the EU rejects the establishment of a so-called “Transitional National Council”. Stating that the freedom and security of all citizens must be ensured and perpetrators of human rights violations must be held accountable for their acts, the Council reiterates the EU's call for the “immediate and unconditional release of those held in illegal detention and an end to violence and intimidation against political leaders and civil society representatives”. (AN/transl.jl)