Brussels, 28/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - Early September, the EU is to decide whether it is to send an observer mission to monitor compliance with the ceasefire, which has still to be officially signed on 15 August, between the Indonesian government and the rebels of the movement for a free Aceh (GAM). A memorandum of agreement was ratified by the parties on Sunday 19 July, in Helsinki, under the aegis of Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. The document provides for a ceasefire to be signed in good and due form on 15 August.
The EU Political and Security Committee (COPS) discussed the planning for this EU observer mission on Tuesday 26 July. It is expected to continue doing so during August. The aim is to complete discussions by the end of August so that the EU Council of Ministers is able to take the necessary decisions early September for the mission to be sent to the province of Aceh.
According to the first estimates, the observer mission composed of the EU, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries (like Norway) should be made up of 190 persons (military and human rights experts), including 50 who would be responsible for monitoring disarmament and the reintegration of the rebels. The mission should last nearly eight months, to cover the disarmament period (end 2005) and preparation of the local elections to be held in April 2006. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP, will discuss surveillance of the peace agreement for the Aceh province when he attends the post-ministerial ASEAN meeting and the regional ASEAN Forum on 28 and 29 July in Vientiane (capital of Laos).