Brussels, 20/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 19 November, the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU called on all parties to work towards the full realisation of Yemen's transition. In its conclusions, the Council welcomes the progress made during the course of the first year of transition and reaffirms its support for the efforts of the president and government to implement the political transition agreement and to manage a “peaceful and orderly” transition. The EU27 recall their “strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity” of the country. Condemning all acts of violence, they say that they are “seriously concerned” by “all actions aimed at undermining, obstructing or derailing” this transition.
Emphasising the urgency of progress in initiating the national dialogue conference, the Council calls on all stakeholders “to support and participate in this process in a constructive manner and without preconditions to ensure that it is fully-inclusive, balanced and transparent”. It encourages measures to be taken that are aimed at improving the political climate. The ministers also stress “the need and urgency of progress in the political, economic, humanitarian and security sectors”.
The ministers encourage the Yemeni government to strengthen the capacity of its institutions and call on all donors to help it, so as to ensure that the pledges are swiftly translated into concrete action. In addition, they welcome the mandate for a new electoral commission and call for swift progress in order to take the necessary steps to hold a referendum on the Constitution in 2013 and to organise national elections in early 2014. (CG/transl.fl)