Brussels, 28/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - EU27 foreign ministers on 28 January gave the final approval from the Council to the launch of the EUFOR military operation in Chad/CAR. The commander of the operation also ordered deployment in the east of Chad and north east of the Central African Republic of 3700 troops to protect civilians in danger, particularly displaced persons from Darfur (west of Sudan) and humanitarian personnel. This operation will begin in February for a year in parallel to MINUAD (the UN/African Union mission in Darfur) and in close collaboration with it.
In its conclusions, the Council explained that, “the EUFOR transitional military operation in Chad and the CAR will be led neutrally, impartially and independently…in close coordination with the UN and in cooperation with the governments of Chad and the CAR”.
The global peace agreement is the basis for peace and sustainable development in the whole of Sudan and its implementation is an absolute priority. The Council is inviting all parties to honour their commitments. The EU calls on the Sudanese authorities and government of national unity to unreservedly support the implementation of MINUAD and to accept deployment of all troops judged necessary by the UN and African Union to enable MINUAD to successfully carry out its mandate. The Council in this connection deplores the Sudanese authorities' refusal to allow Sweden and Norway contribute to MINUAD.
The EU stresses that it attaches the greatest importance to free, unlimited and fully secure access for getting humanitarian aid to the population. It urges the Sudan government to respect its pledges concerning a moratorium on restrictions and obstacles hampering humanitarian work in Darfur, in line with the joint communiqué on this subject, and calls on Sudan's government to use the established means of communication (like the high-level committee) to examine issues of concern. The Council welcomed the recently announced extension of the moratorium but said it was prepared to consider new sanctions at the United Nations against any parties jeopardising peace and security in Darfur or elsewhere in the region, particularly parties preventing humanitarian organisations gaining access to the population. (A.N.)