17/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - General Patrick Nash, who commands the European military operation in Chad and the Central African Republic noted, on Saturday 15 March, that EUFOR has reached its initial operational capacity. Initial duration of European deployment (one year) begins on that date. EUFOR is currently composed of 1,700 military mainly spread out over N'Djamena, Abéché and Birao. For further details, see our “Europe Diplomacy and Defence” publication. (O.J.)