Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-06-12-Speech-2-481-000"
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"en.20120612.21.2-481-000"2
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"Mr President, honourable Members, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a country that demonstrates the importance of the EU engagement being long term, if it is to be productive, and where – over time – we can make a difference.
Secondly, over the past three years, the situation in the eastern Congo has improved. But it is still extremely fragile and, as recent events have shown, there remains a risk of sliding back into war and disorder. Our priority is to work together with our international partners and with the governments of the region to try and prevent this from happening.
The mutiny by some elements in the Congolese armed forces – effectively, former rebels returning to the bush – has caused renewed fighting in the Kivus. I am appalled by, and strongly condemn, the recent mass killings by several armed groups.
One consequence of this has been a sharp increase in the number of internally displaced people in the last few months. We now have over two million people. Our humanitarian assistance already amounts to EUR 63 million in this year but, clearly, the humanitarian crisis is not over.
We are committed to the unity and sovereignty of the DRC. We condemn the rebellion and strongly support the restoration of the authority of the state, and that needs to take into account the legitimate concerns of the DRC’s neighbours. In that context, I am worried about recent reports of developments that might put at risk the positive regional dynamic between the DRC and Rwanda, and weaken their cooperation. That has been so important to underpin the progress in eastern Congo in recent years.
Clear messages have been passed to all in order to encourage a constructive approach in these circumstances, and we recall the need for all illegal armed groups to lay down their weapons and avoid further violence.
Regional cooperation is essential, too, to tackle a number of the problems of the Great Lakes region, including the illegal exploitation of natural resources – conflict minerals – and the provision of improved energy supplies for all.
We support the activities of MONUSCO in the DRC and we welcome the renewal of their mandate at the end of June. The protection of civilians in the east will remain an important mission for them in the coming years.
But there will be no sustainable peace without the rule of law and the application of justice. This is why I welcome and support the arrest warrant launched by the prosecutor against General Ntaganda. This is a clear sign that impunity will not prevail and, I hope, sends a signal of hope for the people who are suffering at the hands of the armed groups.
Our contribution to the reconstruction of the judicial system is an integral part of the wider campaign against gender-based violence in the DRC. Everyone should know that these crimes can and will be punished. But our programme aims equally to tackle the root causes as well as the symptoms of this problem. We have supported action to keep the DRC on the agenda of the Human Rights Council and to encourage the government to cooperate with that council.
Security sector reform, too, continues to be crucial. We are contributing through the operation of two missions: EUSEC, which supports military restructuring, and EUPOL, helping to reform the police. I look forward to continuing to contribute to it through the most appropriate instruments, taking into account the UN’s peacekeeping mission’s future mandate. But we can only have success on security sector reform with the commitment of the DRC at all levels.
I want to focus my remarks on two issues: the democratic follow-up after the November 2011 elections and the security and humanitarian situation in eastern Congo.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate that the EU is committed for the long term to supporting the DRC and the Great Lakes region to escape the conflicts of the past and build a sustainable, more prosperous and peaceful future. It is the people of the DRC we are determined to help, and to do so through a comprehensive approach that tackles the many interlinked problems that they face.
We will persevere.
The DRC is a fragile state and a very young democracy. It is still recovering from years of war and deprivation. The road to recovery and stabilisation is not straightforward, but we are determined to persevere in supporting the DRC in consolidating its democracy and accelerating its development.
The 2006 elections were a milestone in their progress towards a more democratic future, but were achieved with huge support from the international community.
The 2011 elections, by contrast, were primarily funded and organised by the DRC itself. The challenges remained great, the execution may not have been perfect, but this is an achievement that we should recognise. We continue to provide support for the electoral process through a contribution of EUR 47.5 million and by sending an EU electoral observation mission.
I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the commitment and hard work of that mission, led by honourable Member Mariya Nedelcheva. They carried out the work in extremely difficult circumstances and a final report has been well received by everyone in the DRC. They highlighted the fact that the scale of irregularities and fraud weakened, if not undermined, the credibility of the outcome, and that there was a need for significant reforms and improvements in the future. Nevertheless, in present circumstances, all stakeholders have recognised that it would be impossible to recount the votes or organise a new round of elections.
So, our priority is to follow up the valuable recommendations for future reforms that are in the report. This will be an important element of our dialogue between the EU and the DRC Government. In the short term, we expect to see significant improvements for the provincial and local elections that will follow in the coming years. Therefore, we want to engage more closely with the government to ensure that we improve the democratic process and the country’s governance.
I am encouraged by the recent appointment of Mr Ponyo Matata as Prime Minister and the new ministers that will work with him. He has worked closely with the EU in the past and he has a good record as finance minister of the previous government and as a national authorising officer of the European Development Fund. The commitments he made in his inaugural speech are particularly encouraging and they open the prospect for a political dialogue and progress in improved governance.
Our Head of Delegation has already met several ministers of the new government and is beginning to work closely with them. Initial impressions are very positive. But, of course, we want action, not just commitments. We have significant development assistance, which we want to use and we want to use it as productively as possible in facing the challenges of the future."@en1
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