Brussels, 15/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the EU External Relations Council adopted without debate, conclusions on Somalia that encourage the ongoing transition in the country Horn of Africa.
The Council welcomed the successful outcome of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and the establishment of the Transitional Federal Institutions as important steps to wards sustainable peace, stability and the building of a transitional federal authority in Somalia. It expressed its full support to the process of consolidation of those Institutions also through the creation of a secure environment. The Council welcomed the endorsement by the Transitional Federal Institutions of the principles and objectives for structured cooperation with the International Community. The Council looks forward to the rapid activation of the joint structures for co-ordination and monitoring of the transitional phase, with the leadership of the UN to enhance the efforts towards reconciliation, reconstruction and development in Somalia. The EU stands ready to examine positively requests of support to initiatives in the field of security by the African Union. The Council reiterated that the peace and reconciliation process is and must be Somalia owned.