Brussels, 26/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The General Affairs Council adopted conclusions on the Democratic Republic of Congo, in which it makes an appeal on all the parties concerned to immediately take measures to permit the disengagement and orderly withdrawal of their troops. The Council confirms the European Union's support for MONUC and stresses that it is crucial that it be deployed rapidly in order to monitor the disengagement of foreign troops. The EU will examine how it can provide concrete support to the United Nations force and its contributors, as well as in drawing up a plan of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of all the armed groups.
The Council expressed its deep concern at the continuing serious human rights violations in the DRC. It reminded the governments concerned that it was their duty to ensure that their own armed forces, as will as those under their de facto control, respect human rights, and that they will have to answer for it. The Council welcomed the fact that the RDC Government, other than declaring itself committed to the implementation of the Lusaka Agreement, had announced economic reforms. "If followed by concrete action, the European Union is willing to engage in substantive discussions with the RDC on a gradual resumption of development cooperation", the Council stipulates