Brussels, 15/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 15 December, the foreign affairs ministers from the 28 EU member states called for the efforts of national reconciliation and the fight against impunity to be continued in the Central African Republic (CAR), and election preparations to be accelerated.
The Council conclusions, which were adopted without debate, stated that despite a relative improvement in security in Bangui over recent weeks, the situation in the CAR remains fragile. The Council welcomes MINUSCA's increased power to support the political process and calls for it to be fully deployed as quickly as possible.
The EU believes that the Bangui Forum on political dialogue and national reconciliation - a “crucial stage” in the transition that has been extended until August 2015 - must be broad and inclusive. The EU therefore calls on the transition authorities to continue the process actively. The transition authorities are also asked to continue their efforts to fight against impunity. The perpetrators of human rights and international humanitarian law violations must be held accountable, the Council states.
The EU supports extending the transition period and hails the adoption of an electoral timetable. It states that holding elections that are as inclusive as possible is also a crucial stage and it calls for preparations to be accelerated. It reiterates its readiness to support the electoral process financially and through an electoral observation mission, and it calls on all the partners to bring their contribution.
The EU hails the efforts at stabilising the CAR by MINUSCA, the French Sangaris force and the EUFORCA operation, and sees extending the military transition operation as “further proof of the European operation's usefulness and effectiveness”. Still concerned at the humanitarian situation and its heavy impact on the neighbouring countries, the EU strongly condemns the attacks on humanitarian convoys and workers, and states that channelling aid, which is hindered by armed groups, “remains a priority”. (AN)