Luxemburg, 14/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - In Luxemburg on Monday, EU foreign ministers confirmed that the Union will work for the full and rapid implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and was willing to continue to provide planning, technical, financial and equipment support for the military and police components of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). “The EU calls on all parties to implement the DPA and states its willingness to take measures against those that impede the peace process”, as provided for in resolution 1591 (2005) of the United Nations Security Council, emphasised the Council conclusions. The Sudanese government and all parties in Darfur were called on “to remove immediately any existing obstacles to the delivery of aid and to end any obstruction of humanitarian work or of any assistance rendered to AMIS”. The Council stated that the EU would take into account the new tasks arising from the DPA, and the need to ensure a smooth transition to a UN-led operation in Darfur. The EU said it was ready to respond positively to the requests for support to the implementation of the DPA, including in relation to the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation. Determined to continue to play a leading role in the peace process in Darfur, the EU will organise a conference on AMIS in Brussels on 7 July. This conference will be followed by a pledging conference on reconstruction and development in Darfur, to be organised by the Netherlands in September.
The Council stressed that it remained deeply concerned by the risk of destabilisation caused by the Darfur crisis on Chad and the Central African Republic, and by the reports of increasing instability in the Darfur refugee camps in Chad. The EU also called on Sudan and Chad to “put an end to any direct or indirect support to rebel groups in the other country, with a view to contribute to secure peace at their common borders”.