Brussels, 16/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - In an exceptional crisis situation, the extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council will take stock of the latest developments in Mali and the EU's contribution to the international response to help the country to regain its territorial integrity and put an end to the threat posed by terrorist groups, jihadists and drugs traffickers in the north of the country to the entire Sahel region, Europe and the world. The extraordinary ministerial meeting on Mali, called for Thursday 17 January in Brussels by Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU (see EUROPE 10764), will start at 12.00 with an exchange of views with Foreign Minister of Mali Tieman Hubert Coulibaly - providing the opportunity of direct dialogue on the needs of the Bamako government and on the consensual and credible roadmap anticipated for a return to constitutional and democratic order. A working lunch between the 27 alone will follow.
France, which is continuing its Serval military operation against the jihadist terrorist groups of the North (800 French soldiers are already on the ground, supported by some 20 fighter planes, refuelling and surveillance aircraft and several dozen armoured vehicles) in support of the Army of Mali, will be represented by Laurent Fabius and Jean-Yves LeDrian, the Defence Minister. The Council is expected to congratulate France on the speed of its military response and will take stock of the actions the EU may carry out to support Mali. All planks of the holistic strategy on which the European External Action Service (EEAS) is working, together with ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations, will be discussed.
The only decision anticipated, but not a minor one, concerns the accelerated deployment of the training and restructuring mission for the Armed Forces of Mali (EUTM Mali). If it is agreed upon, the appointment of the command of the mission will make it possible for the mission's chief to set off this week to examine local needs. “We are hoping for a decision on setting the mission in place. The decision on deployment will take place in mid-February”, European sources stated on Wednesday.
The ministers will also discuss the financial support the EU is prepared to grant African troops (international support mission to Mali under African leadership, MISMA) via the Peace in Africa Facility, as well as the increase in humanitarian aid and the best way to support government of Mali by means of a package of reinforced measures (helping it to face the growing terrorist threat, to improve the security of buildings and vehicles; helping it to create the basis for a future criminal justice system and prevent contagion by means of aid to Mali's neighbour countries).
The EU will attend the meeting of 20 January proposed by ECOWAS, and the High Representative will be represented at the forthcoming summit of the African Union. (AN/transl.fl)