Solana welcomes successful end of EU support to African force in Darfur

December 30, 2007 (BRUSSELS) — EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, hailed the successful end of the EU civilian – military action in support of the African Union Mission in Sudan.

“I thank and congratulate all the personnel, civilian and military, who over two and a half years have taken part in the EU action in support of AMIS” Solana said.

EU action completes on 31 December 2007 in the context of the handover from African Union peacekeeping mission to the hybrid force.

At the request of the African Union and in full respect of “its ownership”, the EU has provided AMIS with key military and civilian assistance, financial and logistic support, as well as support for its civilian policing capacity.

The head of the European diplomacy hailed the action of the AU mission in Sudan. He said that in a difficult context, AMIS has contributed significantly to the protection of the civilian population and to efforts aimed at improving the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur.

The EU supporting action to AMIS was a concrete example of the ever closer relations that are developing between the EU and the AU and that were highlighted by the recent EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Solana said.

He reiterated that the European Union will continue to remain engaged and help UNAMID in its efforts to solve the crisis in Darfur.”

(ST)