Brussels, 25/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Belgian Presidency made the following declaration on 24 September on behalf of the EU:
"The EU expresses its satisfaction at the progress made in the dialogue between the three Mano River Union countries, in particular at the recent meetings held by their Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Monrovia, Freetown and Conakry. The EU welcomes the declarations made and the commitments entered into at those meetings concerning in particular joint action by those States against the groups involved in the events which destabilise the region, the establishment of a joint patrol at the borders between the three countries and combating the proliferation of small arms. It calls on the Mano River Union countries to make progress on those issues as quickly as possible. The EU also welcomes the prospect of a meeting between the Heads of State of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in January 2002 as proposed by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs. The EU wishes to assure the three Heads of State of its support in their search for a solution to the conflicts persisting in the sub-region. It reiterates its willingness to contribute to the dialogue between their countries, in particular through the Presidency's Special Representative for West Africa, Mr Hans Dahlgren."