Brussels, 18/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The official launch of the EU training and advisory mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) - which was decided on Monday 18 February (see related article) - was welcomed by the EU27 foreign ministers. That same day, they carried out further scrutiny of action undertaken by the EU for helping Mali resolve the political, security and humanitarian crisis it faces, in coordination with ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations.
This provided an opportunity for the Council to reiterate that the EU supports the efforts of the international community to achieve stability and security in Mali, most notably Operation Serval and the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA). This comes at a time when France is hoping to begin withdrawing its troops from March onwards and to pass the baton over to AFISMA, transformed into a UN peacekeeping force.
In unanimous conclusions, the Council encourages the Malian authorities to take the necessary measures for ensuring that transition leads to free and transparent elections on 31 July, and to ensure unequivocal control of civilian authority over the armed forces. The EU calls on the Malian authorities to comply with the commitment they have taken in the roadmap for transition - that of setting in place a national dialogue and reconciliation commission with all the non-terrorist and non-criminal armed movements that unconditionally pledge to respect Mali's unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Council underlines how important it is to support transition in Mali, especially through regular meetings of the international support and follow-up group, the last meeting of which was held in Brussels on 5 February, as well as through resumed political dialogue between Mali and the EU in accordance with Article 8 of the Cotonou agreement linking the EU with the ACP Group of states (African/Caribbean/Pacific).
The Council confirms the EU's humanitarian commitment to the vulnerable populations of Mali and the countries that have taken in refugees. It welcomes the gradual resumption of EU development aid for Mali decided on 12 February (€250,000 available) including through the development of a state-building contract, for which €20 million has been earmarked (see EUROPE 10787). Alarmed by allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law and of human rights, the EU reminds the Malian authorities that they have an overriding responsibility for the protection of the civilian population. The Council welcomes the EU's intention to give its support to the deployment of civilian human rights observers by the African Union, ECOWAS and the UN. EUTM Mali will pay special attention to human rights, to humanitarian law, to the protection of civilians and to the internal code of conduct and control of the armed forces by the civilian authorities, the Council states. (AN/transl.jl)