Brussels, 28/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 25 July, the European Union hailed the prospect of a way out of the crisis in North Mali thanks to the adoption of a roadmap for a comprehensive peace agreement and a statement that was made the previous day in Algiers on the halt to hostilities between the fighters.
“The EU welcomes the adoption of a roadmap to reach a comprehensive peace agreement for North Mali - the first phase of the launch of inter-Mali negotiations. We hail the facilitation role played by Algeria, which - in close cooperation with the UN, AU and EU, and with the support of the countries from the region and from the ECOWAS - managed to bring together all the key players in Algiers. Despite the complexity of the situation and the continuing tension, the parties succeeded in agreeing on the fundamental principles that should frame the future negotiations and a timetable for a sustainable settlement of the conflict”, states a press release published by the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The EU gives assurances that it “will accompany this process on the diplomatic level and in its material implementation over the longer term”. It “calls on all the parties to support the dialogue and to respect the ceasefire agreements” (our translation throughout). (AN)