Brussels, 30/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - Political consultation between the EU and the Republic of Guinea, initiated on 29 April in accordance with Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement in order to seek to put the country back on the road to democracy after the coup d'état on 23 December 2008 (EUROPE 9894), has been closed. The decision to close the talks was adopted without debate on Monday 27 July by the Council of the EU.
Guinean confirmation of the roadmap for transition towards a return to democracy has been seen as encouraging, but the slowness of implementation calls for vigilance. The EU is therefore willing to gradually resume cooperation in order to accompany transition. It makes resumption subject to compliance with the commitments taken. In addition to the continuation of humanitarian emergency aid, further support could be provided for preparing legislative and presidential elections. Support from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) and the previous EDF for projects underway might also be made available.
To achieve this, the National Transition Council would have to be set up as soon as possible and its provisions regarding its composition, mandate and attributions would have to reflect an inclusive and consensual approach. The EU also expects that the fine-tuning of the fundamental law and of the electoral code will be kept to aspects necessary for allowing transition to take place and elections to be organised, and that it will not have an adverse effect on the timetable of the roadmap. It will also ensure that the two-round legislative and presidential elections take place on 13 and 27 December, as announced in Conakry. (A.N./transl.jl)