Brussels, 27/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels on 27 July, decided to step up the EU engagement for promoting peace and development in Somalia, a country prey to instability and to one of the world's most serious humanitarian crises. In its conclusions, the Council condemns the armed attacks against the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the United Nations and several NGOs. It calls on all armed groups to lay down their weapons and join in a genuine broad-based dialogue with the TFG that will allow the implementation of the Djibouti peace agreement that Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed wants to see respected.
EU action will be guided by the principles of accountability, transparency and Somali ownership of the process, and priority will be given to activities that produce quick, yet sustainable, results to promote peace and recovery for the Somali people. The Council will continue to support AMISON and is ready to provide additional support as soon as the most urgent needs have been determined. It will also examine the possibility of further EU support for the security sector “including through support to the UN-led assessment process and TFG priorities and commitments as well as through the training of security forces”. Possible EU support for regional maritime capabilities will also be considered. (A.N./transl.rt)