EU volgt ontwikkelingen in Oostelijk Congo nauwgezet (en) - Hoofdinhoud

The European Union is closely following developments in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including increased cooperation between the DRC and Rwanda.

The European Union considers that this increased cooperation between the two countries creates new prospects for a concerted and sustainable solution to the crisis in Eastern DRC.

The European Union encourages the full integration of combatants of the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP) and other organised armed groups in the DRC’s armed forces (FARDC), which constitutes an important step towards a lasting peaceful solution.

The EU calls on the FDLR to disarm immediately and to return to Rwanda. The EU urges all parties to take into full consideration the humanitarian situation of the civilian population and to comply with applicable provisions of international humanitarian law. The EU takes note in this respect of the commitment by the Congolese authorities to protect the civilian population and facilitate humanitarian assistance.  The EU underlines the need to associate MONUC with the planning of operations in order to allow MONUC to implement its mandate, in particular with respect to the protection of the population and underlines the importance for FARDC and foreign troops legally present in the DRC, to fully respect MONUC's mandate. 

The EU reiterates its support to regional cooperation in the Great Lakes Region as an important means to consolidate ongoing efforts aimed at solving the persistent crises in the DRC.

Further to addressing economic and political challenges, a sustainable peace requires, inter alia, broad reconciliation and the fight against impunity. In this context, the EU also calls on all stakeholders to cooperate with the International Criminal Court. 

The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Armenia align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

contact:

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  Zuzana Opletalová, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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  Tel.: +420 224 182 052; GSM: +420 724 034 154; E-mail: press@mzv.cz