Scherpe veroordeling bomaanslagen Egypte door Hoge Vertegenwoordiger Ashton (en)

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussel, 27 August 2013 (28.08) (OR. fr) A

Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton i on yesterday's bomb attack on the Egyptian Minister of Interior

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:

"The High Representative is deeply concerned about the renewedfighting which broke out near Goma on 21 August. She condemns the M23 movement's firing of heavy weapons at various districts of Goma, leading to deaths and injuries there. She likewise condemns the firing that has caused material damage on Rwandan territory. These attacks on the civilian population and on MONUSCO troops are unacceptable. The EU calls on the Joint Verification Mechanism and MONUSCO to conduct an inquiry into these events as quickly as possible.

The High Representative calls on all parties involved to exercise restraint in the interest of the civilian population and in support of a political solution to the crisis in the east of the DRC. She reiterates that there is an urgent need for the M23 and armed groups to lay down their arms. The European Union continues to actively support the fulfilment of the commitments made in the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC, which was signed in Addis Ababa in February 2013 under the aegis of the United Nations Secretary-General.

In line with MONUSCO's mandate as set out in Security Council Resolution 2098 (2013), the European Union supports MONUSCO's efforts to ensure the protection of civilians, including deployment of the international Intervention Brigade in North Kivu."