Brussels, 31/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 31 July, the United Nations (UN) Security Council was due to examine a draft resolution authorising deployment of the hybrid force in Darfur. The draft, drawn up by France and the United Kingdom, provides for the joint African Union (AU) and UN force to set in place operational means allowing the establishment of a headquarters “in October 2007 at the latest”, AFP reports. The mission, which goes by the name of UNAMID, should have the authority of the current AU force in Darfur (AMIS) transferred to it “as soon as possible and no later than 31 December 2007”, it is stated in the hybrid force's mandate. According to diplomatic sources, the text is to be put to the vote during the afternoon in New York.
“Some European countries are ready to take part in this essentially African force which will be stronger and more robust than that which exists today”, EU High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana had stressed in mid July (EUROPE 9468). Pending its deployment, the EU had also confirmed that it would continue to support AMIS, mainly through its civil-military mission in Addis Ababa (EUROPE 9474). We recall that the EU27 have also begun planning a military operation to the east of Chad and in the northern part of the Central African Republic (Birao region) with a view to ensuring security in refugee camps there. Triggering this ESDP operation, in parallel to the setting up of the hybrid force, remains, however, subject to the adoption of another Security Council resolution. (ab)