Brussels, 25/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - On 19 October, the Dutch Presidency adopted the following statement on the relaunch of the peace process in the Great Lakes Region in Africa:
The EU wishes to congratulate you with the results of the first preparatory meeting of the Conference and the thematic meetings. These meetings have reaffirmed that we are in a process that can be instrumental to achieving peace, stability, security and development in the Great Lakes region.
This second PrepCom is considered a memorable event, not only because the concept of this Conference was based on an analysis of the regional dimension of recent conflicts in the DRC, but also because this meeting is the first with representation of the new core-members.
The EU looks forward to the active participation in the Conference of the new core members Angola, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Sudan.
The EU would like to express its appreciation to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to host this meeting. The active participation of the DRC in the Conference is a sign of commitment to peace and stability in the DRC itself and in the region as a whole.
The EU looks forward to fruitful discussions during the Second preparatory meeting, this week in Kinshasa. The EU is present here to once again demonstrate its partnership during the preparations of the Conference.
The EU repeats its view that the Conference comes at a crucial junction in the history of the region, by providing a platform to discuss options and to agree on actions paving the way towards a peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
The starting point in this effort is genuine dialogue and agreement on concrete confidence building measures, that can be supported and enhanced by local and international partners such as the EU. Confidence building is a process that starts with people. Change agents can play a major role in such efforts as has been demonstrated by Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Kenyan Nobel Prize winner for peace.
The conference is instrumental to this long term process towards peace and reconciliation and should not substitute nor delay the national transitions. Some may be sceptical about the possible outcome, but there is no alternative forum where all regional stakeholders join hands, listen to each other and work towards a settlement that will respect the other's position. The political significance of this forum in this war torn region cannot be underestimated.
The conference therefore deserves the full and unequivocal commitment of its participants and of the governments and peoples they represent. The GoF, of which the EU is a member, and the international community at large will provide financial, technical and diplomatic support to help turn this Conference into a success.
In view of the rapidly approaching summit of the Heads of State on 19 and 20 November in Dar es Salaam, the EU would like to emphasise that the outcome of this second preparatory meeting is of the utmost importance. The EU looks forward to the discussion of a "zero draft" of the Declaration of Principles, Policies, Orientations and Directives of the HoS Summit in Dar.
The EU urges all participants to engage in constructive and open minded dialogue. The EU reiterates its view that the Conference should focus as much as possible on the key area of concern: peace and security. In this framework, the EU would definitely welcome a central role for the African Union. Without peace and security efforts in other areas, such as economic development and regional integration, will be in vain. Participants should build upon existing agreements, arrangements and organisations, such as COMESA, SADC, the EAC and the CEPGL. In the field of security, the Joint Verification Mechanism as well as the Tripartite agreement between Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC should be used as building blocks for the final security arrangements to be agreed on by this conference.
This is truly a historical episode in the region of the Great Lakes. It provides all of you with a unique opportunity to chart the course towards peace, security and development for millions of people who have known little else than oppression, violence and poverty. The EU stands by you. Let's take that chance.