Brussels, 14/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - EU Foreign Ministers, who met in Brussels on Monday under the chairmanship of Dutch Minister Bernard Bot, discussed the situation in the African Great Lake region (see EUROPE of 10 September, p.8). Their discussions focused on the current tension in the region and on the proposals of the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, aimed at amending and enlarging the MONUC mandate (United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo), which expires on 1 October.
All expressed their growing concern about the current rise in tension in the region and urged leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi, but also of neighbouring countries (mainly Rwanda and Uganda) to pursue implementation of existing peace agreements. The Council welcomes the planned meetings of Heads of State of Uganda, the DRC and Rwanda on the fringe of the United Nations General Assembly and urges all participants to use these meetings to bring forward discussions on the reduction of tension in the region. The question of sending a ministerial EU troika to insist on the imperious need to comply with agreements was tackled.
The Council is still convinced that the resolution of conflict in the region requires a regional approach, and states it is strongly in support of organising an International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.
Commissioner Poul Nielson noted the Commission's willingness to more than ever support the transition process that has for now broken down. In addition to the EUR 80 million that it plans to allocate to supporting the organisation of elections, EUR 9 million could be attributed to protective operations in this context. On the matter of strengthening MONUC, Javier Solana, High Representative for CFSP, presented the key elements of Kofi Annan's proposals to ministers. Unanimous support was expressed for the idea of a more targeted and robust mandate, accompanied by strengthened capacities.
Given, however, that EU participation with troops is not at the present time on the agenda (there is no EU common position on this subject and no Member State offers), the question submitted to ministers was to find a way to increase EU support to MONUC in a qualitative way. The different options put forward by Javier Solana (joint satellite services, development of armed force formations beyond training in progress of 300 police officers, and aid to military staff quality planning) were also welcomed. Work on this subject will continue within the relevant Council bodies.
Conclusions adopted by the Council include these elements to the great satisfaction of Belgium, which had called for the results of the discussion to be made official. Belgian Minister Louis Michel was not, however, followed up in his request for the Council to formulate, in its conclusions, a request that the DRC should organise elections in 2005 renouncing the possibility afforded by the transition agreement to prolong transition to twice six months (Commissioner Nielson, in particular, recalled the need to respect the terms of the transition agreement). The idea of an "open" Troika, which would allow Belgium to take part, did not enthuse delegations either.