Brussels, 19/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish Presidency issued the following statement on 17 April on behalf of the EU:
"The European Union is concerned at the deterioration of the situation in Madagascar and condemns the outbreaks of violence and the human rights violations which have recently occurred there. The EU reiterates the urgent need for the senior Malagasy figures concerned to seize the opportunity afforded by their presence in Dakar to resume the dialogue under the aegis of the OAU in order to find a way out of the political crisis rocking the country and posing a potential serious threat to the future of the island. The EU urges the setting up of a government of national reconciliation, with the holding of new elections within six months as its chief objective. The EU reiterates its readiness to provide political and technical support for such elections, inter alia by sending international observers. The EU condemns the deliberate attempts to disrupt the running of the economy of the entire country and the free movement of goods and person, and calls for a return to conditions conducive to an immediate resumption of economic and social activities. Finally, the EU confirms its willingness to continue implementing its assistance and co-operation programmes on the island, but notes that if there is no political agreement the worsening situation will affect the partnership between the EU and Madagascar. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the EU, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the EEA align themselves with this declaration."