No agreement on DRC mission

2008-12-09 12:52

Brussels - European Union foreign ministers failed on Monday to agree on sending a peacekeeping force to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as requested by UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon.

But at a meeting in Brussels, the EU's top diplomats did endorse a "robust" anti-piracy mission to Somalia, and they vowed to strengthen the bloc's ties with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

EU ministers also dashed Turkey's hopes of joining their club any time soon, saying Ankara had not yet approved the reforms needed to become a member.

In a statement concerning the situation in Congo, ministers expressed "concern" and highlighted a decision by member states to provide an additional €45.6m in humanitarian aid.

And while reiterating their support for the United Nations' Monuc peacekeeping mission, ministers politely turned down Ban's request, saying merely that they had "taken note" of the secretary general's letter.

Asked by reporters why the EU was not doing more to help Congo, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said: "I share your indignation.

"Unfortunately, this indignation is not shared by all 27 (EU) member states," said Kouchner, whose country holds the bloc's rotating presidency until the end of the year.

In the meantime, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana would be tasked with finding rapid and appropriate "technical, humanitarian and political responses" to the unfolding crisis, ministers said.

The UN's Monuc mission to Congo currently consists of nearly 17 500 soldiers from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Pressure has grown on the EU to do more following Ban's call on the bloc to reinforce UN peacekeepers in the former Belgian colony until more UN troops can deploy.

"It is urgent that we take a decision on such a bridging force (to Congo), which to my mind is absolutely necessary," said Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht at the start of the talks in Brussels.

The minister said an EU mission would need up to 3 000 heavily- armed soldiers, who would fill in immediate shortages.

De Gucht was backed by his colleagues from Sweden, Ireland and the Czech Republic, while Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said the EU should consider deploying its battle groups.

The EU currently has two such battle groups, consisting of about 1 500 soldiers each, on standby. These are meant to be deployed at short notice anywhere in the world, but have never been used to date.

"If we don't send them to Congo, where do we send them?" Stubb asked as he arrived in Brussels.

However, any decision to immediately send EU troops was opposed by heavyweights Germany and Britain, with Italy saying more time was needed to discuss the issue. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA