EU verheugt over benoeming Mary Robinson als speciale VN-gezant voor Grote Meren regio (en)

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 19 March 2013 A

Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the appointment of Mary Robinson i as Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations for the Great Lakes region

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today:

"I warmly welcome the decision of the Secretary General of the United Nations to appoint Mary Robinson as his Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region of Africa.

In her previous capacities, including as President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Robinson has demonstrated her commitment to peace, democracy and human rights.

I wish to express the EU's willingness to work closely with the office of the Special Envoy in support for the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region of Africa.

The plight of the population in the eastern DRC and the regional impact of the crisis require urgent action. I am convinced that the framework agreement provides the right context for action both at the national and the regional levels.

I hope that the conditions will be met in the near future to facilitate the work of the Special Envoy. To this end, I look forward to the adoption of a new UNSC resolution revising MONUSCO's mandate and I hope that negotiations in Kampala between the DRC government and the M23 will conclude rapidly. The fight against impunity would make a crucial step forward by transferring Bosco Ntaganda, currently in Kigali, to the International Criminal Court.

I take this opportunity to commend the efforts of the UNSG and of our African partners to finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the eastern DRC. "

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