Brussels, 25/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - As it had undertaken to do, the EU is, on the occasion of the international donors' conference for Sudan attended by EU High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana and Commissioner Louis Michel, to present Addis Ababa with a coherent and substantial additional support package for the military, police and civil efforts of the African Union in Darfur (AMIS II mission) on 26 May. Strengthened support in favour of the AU mission in Darfur is necessary given the shortcomings of the operation underway (command chain, logistics and planning) and the rise in AMIS military and civilian personnel (up to 7,700 men by end September). The various Member States' contributions were updated on Wednesday. EU aid will cover planning, logistics, equipment, strategic airlift (Senegalese battalion transport) and tactical air transport (aircraft with several rotations per week), the strengthening of AU observation capacity and training (training of Senegalese battalions and of Nigerian troops and pilots). The French suggestion of an air surveillance operation is still on the EU list but requires the approval of the Sudanese government and the request of the AU.
In the conclusions adopted on 23 May in Brussels, the EU Council of Ministers stresses its firm resolve to ban all deliveries of arms and military equipment to the Sudanese government and recalls that the embargo on arms imposed by the EU in 1994 remains in place. The Council is ready to foresee additional, appropriate measures against any violation of the embargo by parties to the conflict. Finally, the Council expresses its concern about the tension between Khartoum, N'djamena and Asmara, which comprises the risk that the Darfur crisis could become a region-wide crisis and therefore urges governments concerned to rapidly seek settlement of their disputes through dialogue.