Brussels, 26/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 25 June, the Spanish Presidency adopted the following declaration on behalf of the EU:
"While welcoming the opening of substantive negotiations within the IGAD framework, the EU remains highly concerned about the humanitarian situation in many parts of the Sudan and in particular in Western Upper Nile, Eastern Equatoria and Bahr-El-Ghazal. The EU recalls the universal humanitarian principle, that civilian populations must be protected from the consequences of military operations. The EU calls for unrestricted, immediate and unlimited access by international humanitarian agencies, for the purpose of providing humanitarian assistance to these civilian populations, wherever they are directly or indirectly affected by the conflict. The EU calls on both the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A to decisively engage in the IGAD Peace Process. In this respect, the EU reiterates its appeal for a comprehensive cease fire as part of a comprehensive and just peace negotiation process. Subject to progress toward a peace settlement, the EU is ready to support the process of economic and social development through the linkages between relief, rehabilitation and development with a view to alleviating poverty."