Brussels, 23/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - Monday's General Affairs and External Relations Council (yesterday's EUROPE, pages 5 and 6) devoted a large part of its work to the situation in Africa, and especially in Sudan, the Great Lakes Region, Ivory Coast and Somalia. The main elements of the conclusions adopted are:
Sudan: The Union states its concern regarding the worsening of the humanitarian and refugee situation due to the ceasefire violations by the parties to the conflict and the inability of the Sudanese government to punish such violations (see also pages 7 and 8). The Council condemns the decision of the Sudanese authorities to forcibly transfer certain refugee camps and expressed its determination to keep political pressure on the government of Khartoum and on rebel forces, with penalties imposed if no progress is made. It nonetheless welcomed the effort made by the African Union (AU) aimed above all at deploying military forces in Darfur, and the progress made during peace talks in Abuja. The EU announces that it will step up its humanitarian aid and welcomes the deployment in Darfur of UN observers monitoring respect for human rights, and the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1574 during its extraordinary session in Nairobi.
Great Lakes: The Council welcomes the results of the first summit of AU Heads of State and of the International Peace and Security Conference in the Great Lake Region, in Dar Es Salam (Tanzania) on 19 and 20 November (EUROPE of 20 November, p.5). It welcomes the commitment by parties to the conflict - Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia - to cooperate in favour of lasting stability in the region, good governance, democracy, respect of human rights, economic development and regional integration. "This is a conflict that the Africans themselves wish to resolve. Let us hope they are able to act as they say", the Council President, Bernard Bot, said.
Ivory Coast: The EU hailed Security Council Resolution 1572, which provides for an embargo on arms against Ivory Coast, and the application from 15 December on of sanctions targeted on certain persons involved in the Ivory Coast conflict, if they do not comply with the peace agreements signed in Marcoussis. The Council also deplored the declarations made by certain combatants threatening national reconciliation, and called on the Ivory Coast government and the opposition to step up their efforts to restore political dialogue and security.
Somalia: The Council welcomes the results of the effort made by the parties to the conflict in Somalia in support of the peace and reconciliation process and transition towards the establishment of a Federal State. It mainly welcomes the establishment of the federal transition parliament and the election of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as president of the federal transition government. At the same time, it places emphasis on the need to pursue demobilisation and disarmament in Ethiopia. The Council expressed the EU's willingness to cooperate with the UN and the other players to support the peace process and national reconciliation and in order to maximise the impact of resources provided for rebuilding the country.