Brussels, 10/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The state of progress in the transition process in the Democratic Republic of Congo was the focus of talks between Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, and William Lacy Swing, Special UN Representative for DRC, this week in Brussels.
Javier Solana expressed concern about the delay in implementing the transition agenda and stressed the need for tangible progress towards holding elections in 2005: the interinstitutional seminar which was recently held in Kinshasa was very useful for revitalising the preparatory process but a clear commitment is needed from all Congolese players. William Lacy Swing informed the High Representative of the role played by the UN in the process for preparing elections and of the latest logistical and legislative obstacles identified. Javier Solana, who was concerned about the presence of ex-FAR/Interahamwe rebels and other armed militia to the east of the country, underlined the need for the disarmament and repatriation of foreign armed groups. Swing took stock of the heightened presence of MONUC in the eastern part of the country. Javier Solana and Swing acknowledge the fact that the aid proposed by the African Union is a good thing but stress that rapid despatch of an AU military force to disarm the rebels should be done in close coordination with MONUC and the Congolese authorities. Stressing that reform of the security sector is crucial for the peace process, Javier Solana recalled that the EU already provides financial support in the area of police integration through the training of an integrated police unit (UPI) in Kinshasa in order to make transition institutions more secure, as well as the launching of a foreign policy, security and defence mission for monitoring and advising the IPU.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the EU and MONUC agreed on the practical arrangements for the use, by MONUC, of EU satellite services (Torrejon Cenrtre, Spain).