Brussels, 20/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - During a visit to the Great Lakes region in Africa, more specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, the European Development Commissioner, Louis Michel, expressed grave concern about the flaring of tension in eastern Congo (see page 8 on the resolution adopted by the European Parliament last week). In a press release, Michel welcomed the pledges made by DRC President Kabila and Rwandan President Kagame to react to the crisis and genuinely seek peace. In Kinshasa (DRC) on Saturday, Louis Michel said that peace, democracy and prosperity were within reach for the first time in the DRC in forty years and this opportunity had to be seized. On Sunday, Michel said he was pleased with President Kagame's commitment to react peacefully to the tensions along the DRC's eastern border.
In his press release, the former Belgian foreign minister said he had himself asked to be made Development Commissioner and had done so with Africa in mind, particularly the Great Lakes Region. He said that for the past five years he had been fighting, and would continue to do so in his new post as Commissioner, to ensure developing countries are able to take charge of their own fate, without paternalism or moralism. Africa needs Europe, he said, but Europe also needs Africa.