Brussels, 21/08/2007 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on 14 August the presidency of the European Union welcomes the signature in N'Djamena on 13 August 2007, in the presence of the international community and of the Chadian Head of State, President Idriss Deby Itno, of the political agreement with a view to the reinforcement of the democratic process in Chad by all the Chadian political parties in the majority and in the opposition.
The presidency, speaking on behalf of the EU explained that this “agreement represents a major step forward in restoring political confidence and consolidating the democratic process in Chad”. It pointed out that it is the fruit of an exemplary exercise in political dialogue, launched in December 2006 agreement represents a major step forward in restoring political confidence and consolidating the democratic process in Chad. It is the fruit of an exemplary exercise in political dialogue, launched in December 2006.
The European Union, which signed the agreement as an observer and which will participate as a "facilitator" in its "follow-up and support committee", congratulates “all Chadian players of good will on the patience, tolerance and national vision which they have shown in reaching this remarkable result”. It considers that the agreement on 13 August constitutes an “historic opportunity for all the people of Chad to move forwards towards peace, stability and development, clearly and definitively rejecting weapons as a means to achieving and retaining power”.
The Union now calls on those same players to maintain this spirit of openness and consensus, and to “continue to promote the national interest in the essential phase of the effective and resolute implementation of the political agreement, in all its dimensions: electoral, institutional and security”. The EU reaffirms its sustained commitment to remain alongside Chad in this beneficial process. With the people of Chad, it hopes that other external partners with an interest in the stability and development of this country will also associate themselves with it. In particular, the European Union will continue and “step up the efforts it has already made to promote the thorough going reform - defined in the political agreement - of the Chadian electoral framework, with a view to achieving, on an improved basis acceptable to all, future democratic polls, which are credible and faithfully reflect the aspirations of all the people of Chad”.