Friday, July 13, 2007
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The European Union (EU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) emphasized that Somalia's problems can only be solved through political means at a Ministerial Troika between the EU and IGAD held in Lisbon on Thursday.The political means should be based on the Transitional Federal Charter, and through an inclusive National Reconciliation Congress involving all sections of Somali society rejecting violence, the two sides said in a statement.
They also reaffirmed their support for the African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and called on all international partners to provide further support to AMISOM and African countries contributing troops.
On Sudan, the EU and IGAD concurred on the vital importance of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on the Darfur conflict.
Both sides stated their strong support for the joint efforts of the African Union (AU) and UN Special Envoys to promote a negotiated settlement of the conflict, and both looked forward to the deployment of the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur as soon as possible.
The meeting was co-chaired by Joao Cravinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal and H.E. Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, while representatives from Slovenia, the Commission and the Council General Secretariat also attended the meeting.
The EU has always regarded Africa as a neighbor, and reaffirms the strategic importance the EU attaches to the Horn of Africa and the promotion of cooperation and peace, security and development in that region, Cravinho said.
Source: Xinhua, July 13, 2007