EU Presidency Statement - Progress report on Central Africa

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia; the Candidate Countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey; the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro; and the EFTA countries, Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

On behalf of the European Union I would like to thank you and the Security Council for scheduling this meeting today which is an opportunity for the international community to demonstrate our commitment to the Central African region. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his progress report on the recommendations of the Security Council's mission to Central Africa.

Mr. President,

Although Central Africa has the potential to be one of the richest subregions in Africa, its potential has not been realised. Many of the subregion's countries are either in conflict or in post-conflict situations, and the subregion as a whole continues to suffer from the proliferation of small arms and armed groups, high unemployment among young people, an underdeveloped infrastructure, great numbers of displaced persons and refugees, poor human rights records, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. These are significant challenges which demand our attention. The European Union is convinced that tackling these shared problems also demands our developing a regional approach which is in concert with our efforts in each of the individual countries concerned.

In considering a regional approach-and in particular the convening of the International Conference for Peace, Security, Democracy and Development for the Great Lakes region-it is encouraging to note that the Secretary-General has said that the prospects for success in the region have improved significantly, most notably in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The European Union believes that the success of the Great Lakes Conference will depend primarily on the common political will of the countries involved in achieving shared objectives. In this regard, we welcome the important progress made in the preparatory process to date-including the outcomes of the most recent meeting in Addis Ababa.

The EU suggests that the Conference will be all the more successful if an agreed timeframe for clear and realistic goals, based on concrete operational agreements or projects, can be defined early on. In that regard, it is now important that all the national preparatory committees take immediate steps to enable the agreed timetable for the holding of the Conference to proceed on schedule. The EU welcomes the Secretary-General's call for the first regional meeting of national preparatory committees to be convened as soon as possible. As the Secretary-General notes in his report, it is during that first regional preparatory meeting that detailed discussions on substance and priority programmes expected from the international conference will be initiated at the regional level. In addition, coordination and consistency with other existing processes, such as NEPAD, is also important.

Mr. President,

As preparations continue throughout the year towards the first summit of the Conference, the European Union stands ready to engage as a committed and supportive partner to the countries of the region; as member of the Group of Friends of the Conference on the Great Lakes Region; through the good offices of the EU Special Representative for the Great Lakes, Mr. Aldo Ajello; and by our efforts to strengthen more effective subregional cooperation and integration through mechanisms such as, for example, those set up by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

Mr. President,

As I mentioned earlier the prospects for the International Conference on the Great Lakes region are much improved due to the progress made in the peace processes in the region.

In the DRC, the European Union is encouraged by the significant improvements achieved. These include, inter alia, the improved security situation; the signs of national reunification, such as increased transport links and improving commerce; the better relations between the DRC and its neighbours; and the progress in Security Sector Reform. The EU commends the Transitional Government in its implementation of the Sun City and Pretoria agreements. Difficult decisions have been taken and the commitment of the parties is encouraging. Nevertheless, the situation remains fragile and the European Union urges President Kabila and his Government to continue their work and put in place the legislative framework and establish the national institutions required for the holding of free and transparent elections at all levels, the formation of restructured and integrated military and police forces, and for the implementation of a national DDR programme.

Mr. President,

The European Union is committed to underpinning peace, security and democracy in the DRC. Operation Artemis and the Union's support for the Integrated Police Unit are clear demonstrations of that commitment. The EU stands ready to support concrete initiatives for the rebuilding of a stable Congolese State able to guarantee the safety of the Congolese people, national reconciliation and stability in the region. In this regard, the European Union commends the Secretary-General for his initiative in calling last week a high-level meeting to consider a strategy for the international community's support of the Security Sector Reform effort.


Mr. President,

The European Union is greatly encouraged by recent progress in Burundi. Since we last had the opportunity in this chamber to discuss the state of the peace process there, a significant milestone has passed with the convening of talks between President Domitien Ndayizeye and a delegation from the National Liberation Forces, the FNL. The European Union is pleased that these talks took place in a constructive and cordial atmosphere. We also welcome the parties' recognition of the need to end violence in Burundi and their willingness to continue the dialogue.

The European Union hopes the proposed follow-up meeting between President Ndayizeye and the FNL takes place at the earliest opportunity. The EU calls for the cessation of all hostilities in Burundi, and for the conclusion of an agreement for the inclusion of the FNL in Burundian state institutions. The European Union remains willing to assist the parties in their quest for a peaceful solution and we reconfirm our readiness to support Burundi in its reconstruction efforts, which remain severely hampered by the ongoing violence in the absence of an all-inclusive peace agreement.

Mr. President,

The European Union is committed to working closely with our African partners to strengthen African capacities in the area of conflict resolution and peace-keeping. In this regard the EU commends the African Union in its establishing the African Mission in Burundi, AMIB-the first force of its kind in the history of the AU. The European Union fully supports this initiative and is contributing €25 million to AMIB. In addition, a number of the EU's member states have also made significant national contributions both in advance of and in response to the Secretary-General's recent appeal for support. Notwithstanding the success and importance of AMIB, the European Union believes, as stated last November in this chamber, that the option of a UN operation in Burundi authorised by this Council will have to be considered in due course. In this regard, the EU welcomes the Secretary General's sending of an assessment mission to Burundi later this month and we look forward to its reporting in due course.

Mr. President,

The wind of peace is blowing across the African continent. Africa and her people deserve our full support in their quest for peace, democracy and sustainable development. No where is this more true than in Central Africa. The European Union recognises this obligation and Africa, the United Nations, and the whole international community will find the EU to be a willing and eager partner for peace and development for all the African peoples.

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