Brussels, 01/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Hans Dahlgren, who heads an EU delegation, is currently on visit to Western Africa on behalf of the Swedish Presidency. During the visit he met the President of Sierra Leone, Ahmd Kabbah. During these meetings, the EU delegation expressed its support to the UN peace-keeping mission in the country (with 16,500 staff, this is the most important UN operation of this kind at the present time, stresses a press release from the Swedish Presidency). It pointed out that the EU is ready to support elections in Sierra Leone, as soon as the security situation permits.
"Those behind the terrible violations of human rights must be brought to justice", said Mr Dahlgren. He continued: "At the same time the rebel movement, if it lays down its arms and meets its commitments under the peace agreement, must be included in a dialogue on the future of the country". He also made it clear that the EU fully supports the UN sanctions in Liberia because of the country's involvement in Sierra Leone.