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EU peace mission gets final OK
28/01/2008 19:20 - (SA)
Brussels - European Union nations gave their final blessing on Monday to sending a 3 700-strong peacekeeping mission to two countries flanking Sudan's troubled Darfur region to help protect fleeing civilians and humanitarian workers.
The mission, which will deploy to Chad and the Central African Republic, will aim to "contribute to the protection of civilians in danger, particularly refugees and displaced persons", said EU foreign ministers.
The mission will also aim to streamline delivery of humanitarian aid to refugees, said the EU.
Problems finding troops
The ministers said the force would conduct its mission "in a neutral, impartial and independent manner," and would seek to co-operate closely with the governments of Chad and the CAR.
Deployment has been delayed because EU military organisers have had problems finding troops and military hardware like helicopters for the mission, with many member governments claiming they were too busy elsewhere, notably in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Belgium, Poland and France agreed to contribute helicopters and other means of air transport earlier this month.
The EU force, which has been authorised by the United Nations, has headquarters outside Paris and is to be made up mostly of French troops under an Irish general's command.
The UN, meanwhile, is struggling to get Sudan to agree to a separate international peacekeeping force for Darfur itself, to replace an undermanned, under-equipped African Union force.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the EU force would be sent to Darfur's borders shortly. The first soldiers could be in place in a few weeks' time, with the entire force to be in place by March.
"They will be on the ground before the UN decision, this is very important," Solana said.
'Accept all troops necessary'
The EU ministers also appealed to Sudan and Chad to "abstain from any action" that could further destabilise Darfur, notably to ensure they "terminate support" to armed militias from eastern Chad and those in Darfur.
They also urged Sudan's government to ensure the new UN force was approved and deployed, and "accept all troops deemed necessary by the UN and the African Union."
The ministers called on Sudan drop its objections to allow Swedish and Norwegian troops to take part in the force for Darfur.
At least 200 000 people have been killed and a further 2.5 million uprooted from their homes in Darfur since a rebellion broke out there in 2003.
- AP
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