Brussels, 22/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - Still “greatly concerned” by the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR), by the breadth of its humanitarian impact and its consequences on the CAR's neighbouring countries, the EU strongly condemns the continuing resurgence of violence in the different parts of the CAR and calls for the immediate cessation of all violence. This is the main message from the Council of the EU in its conclusions on the situation in the CAR - conclusions that were adopted on Tuesday 22 July without debate, on the sidelines of the EU foreign affairs ministers' meeting.
The EU reiterates its commitment to the people who are victims of the humanitarian crisis - both in the CAR and in neighbouring countries - and calls on the international community to respond immediately to the challenges posed by the crisis. Concerned by the diminishing humanitarian space due to the persistence of incidents threatening security, the EU renews its call to all parties to respect international humanitarian law so as to guarantee the safe and unfettered access of humanitarian workers to the people needing help.
The EU and its member states are contributing 45% of the international humanitarian efforts in the CAR - efforts coordinated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - and they will remain ready to act, the Council states.
The Council notes that the security situation is improving, especially in the capital Bangui and on the axis linking Bangui to Cameroon, but the situation remains tense in other parts of the country. The EU therefore urges all the armed groups to cease their violence against the civilian populations immediately, to release the child soldiers without delay, and to stop recruiting and using children. The EU believes that the ever growing number of cases of sexual violence and violence carried out on children is “particularly alarming”, and it reiterates is firm condemnation of the breaches of human rights and international humanitarian law.
The EU calls on the transition authorities, which have appealed to the International Criminal Court to investigate the crimes committed since 1 August 2012, to step up the fight against impunity. The EU welcomes the action of the EUFOR RCA military transition operation, which “has enabled the EU to contribute concretely to the return of a safe and secure environment in the capital. The EU is committed to maintaining a sufficient military presence on the ground until the end of the EUFOR RCA mandate”, the Council underlines (our translation throughout).
The EU hails the 7 July announcement by the international contact group on the CAR of a dialogue forum of all players in the transition (21-23 July in Brazzaville) - with a view to making progress towards national reconciliation and peace. (AN)