Brussels, 26/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is very concerned at the humanitarian consequences of the fighting that is escalating in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and believes the attacks in Goma carried out by rebels of the M23 movement against civilians and the UN are “unacceptable”, said a spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on Monday 26 August. The spokesperson stressed the importance of finding a political solution, in line with the peace, security and cooperation agreement.
Replying to a journalist who, given the worsening of the situation, was asking about withdrawal of the EU SEC (the EU advice and assistance mission for reform of the security sector in the DRC), spokesperson Sébastien Brabant, said: “We are very concerned at the humanitarian consequences of the fighting which broke out on 21 August near Goma following the firing of heavy weapons by the M23 movement on different districts of Goma. This resulted in deaths and injuries that we deplore, as well as material damage on Rwandan soil. These attacks against the civilian populations and MONUSCO troops (Ed: UN peacekeeping mission for stabilisation in the DRC) cannot be tolerated. The European Union calls for a political solution to the crisis in Eastern Congo including in its regional dimension. This is why we are continuing to support actively the implementation of commitments under the peace, security and cooperation agreement for the DRC and the region, which was signed in Addis Ababa in February 2013.”
He added: “Obviously, we are taking all the measures necessary to ensure the security of our missions. MONUSCO and the peace process must be supported”. It was in these terms that Brabant responded to a journalist who asked him to comment on the inability of the MONUSCO troops to protect the civilian populations (our translation throughout). (AN/transl.fl)