Brussels, 26/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 22 March, the Spanish Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the European Union:
"The European Union strongly condemns the recent outbreak of fighting in Moliro and the subsequent suspension of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue. It firmly supports the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1399 (2002) following the taking of Moliro by RCD-Goma and welcomes the resumption of the Inter Congolese Dialogue talks in Sun City. The EU calls on all parties to fully respect the Lusaka cease-fire agreement and the terms of the Lusaka peace process as well as all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
The EU urges the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of RCD-Goma from Moliro and calls upon the government of Rwanda to exercise its influence to ensure that this is done as a matter of urgency. It is important that no party to the Lusaka cease-fire agreement should make gains whilst a dialogue to promote peace and end the conflict in DRC is in process and with a peacekeeping operation in the area.
The EU also calls for the redeployment and strengthening of MONUC observers in the areas concerned and for MONUC to make a full report on the events that led to the violation of the cease-fire and the taking of Moliro.
The EU notes with satisfaction the meeting in Lusaka of the Political Committee of the Lusaka agreement and welcomes the summit convened by the President of Zambia in Lusaka in the next few days.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration".