Strasbourg, 13/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 13 December, the European Parliament adopted a joint EEP-ED, PES, ALDE, UEN, Greens-EFA resolution on the situation in the east of Chad, calling for the immediate deployment of the EUFOR Chad/RCA mission. MEPs were critical that the mission was still awaiting essential equipment, such as helicopters and medical supplies to allow the troops to carry out their duties. They called on the EU and its member states to honour the political decision taken, with the EU's credibility in its foreign policy on the world stage being at stake. Noting the importance of the neutrality of the European force, which must not be perceived as a French-led operation, Parliament called on the other member states to send significant troop contributions to the force and on EUFOR to conduct a comprehensive communication strategy to communicate its neutral mandate to the local population. It hoped that the first deployment of soldiers could start before the end of the year and that it would reach full strength by February or early March. MEPs also deplored the insistence by Sudan's President Omar al-Beshir that the joint UN-African Union mission to Darfur (UNAMID) should be made up exclusively of African soldiers. It suggested the inclusion in the mandate of the hybrid force of powers to search for and arrest those against whom the ICC has issued arrest warrants. Stressing, too, the extent of the violence against the region's civilian populations, in particular sexual exploitation, MEPs proposed that the UNAMID and EUFOPR Chad/RCA forces be given training to address the particular needs of victims of sexual violence.
Just like all the speakers in the debate which preceded the vote on the resolution, Adam Bielan (UEN, Poland) stressed how essential this mission was. Without putting in doubt the need to intervene in Chad, Mary-Lou McDonald (GUE/NGL, Ireland) felt that the mission, as conceived, would not improve security. Highlighting the lack of a clear mandate, she felt that, with troop numbers as they were, there was no guarantee of neutrality. Such a French mission would be seen as provocation, she said. Other countries were taking part in this mission, the commander of which was Irishman Patrick Nash, responded her compatriot Colm Burke (EPP-ED), who rejected any idea of bias. Although the Council gave approval for the deployment of the mission on 15 October, it still has not taken place, regretted Belgian Socialist Alain Hutchinson. This was “unacceptable” and it was urgent that the mission get under way, he said. The EU will use all the means at its disposal to come to the aid of Chad, Gunter Verheugen said, speaking for the Commission. Aid for refugees, equal to what was provided in 2007, was planned for 2008. The EU backed the UN action on the training of the Chadian police force to the tune of around €10 million (under the stabilisation instrument), and a further €10 million was earmarked for reconstruction. A military presence was essential if the ultimate aim of a return of security to the region was to be achieved, Verheugen agreed. However, the causes of the conflict had to be got rid of, a political solution sought and the problem of poverty tacked, he added. (A.B./L.G.)