Remarks at the High Level Event on the Central African Republic, New York, 1 October 2015
Discussion details
Annoucement by Christos Stylianides, Commissioner - Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management
Mr Secretary-General, Madam Head of State,
We did not expect this meeting to take place at a moment of new violence, causing victims and displacing people once again. I want to express the EU solidarity with the victims of these last few days.
We cannot stand idle before these events at a time when the country is nearing the end of the transition. We should therefore focus our work today on ensuring that we reach that goal.
First we need to be clear on what happened these last days: this is a deliberate attempt to derail the transition process. This is unacceptable. We strongly condemn these acts of violence and stress that there should be no tolerance for any party who refuses to abide to the disarmament and Cessation of Hostilities and Violence agreements. Those behind these actions, in and outside the country, should be held accountable.
Second, I want to reiterate the EU's strong support for the transitional authorities and the on-going transition process. It was good to listen to the contribution of transition Head of State Samba Panza from Bangui. Mme President, you have our full support. There is no alternative for the transition process
Thirdly, I want to confirm our support to the UN, the MINUSCA and French Sangaris operation. A robust approach by all forces will be needed in order to restore law and order and to safeguard the current transition.
Mr President,
The EU has substantially supported the Central African Republic in its political transition that should turn the page over twenty years of chronic crisis.
We have done that in close partnership with the UN, international and regional partners. We have deployed the full range of our actions, from humanitarian to military.
Events of last days demonstrate that elections and security should remain our priorities for the coming months.
The electoral process must not be derailed. Everything must be done to achieve a level of inclusiveness, transparency, and credibility that leads to an outcome that will be accepted by all: a legitimate, post-transition government with a new constitution endorsed by the majority of its citizens. We should not give reason to the spoilers of today and do everything to respect the timelines of the Transition.
Security is the second priority. The Bangui Forum was an important occasion to build a consensus on the way forward. A disarmament agreement was signed on 10 May 2015. To date, regrettably, too few ex combatants have actually disarmed, as we are witnessing in the streets of Bangui in these very hours. Pre-DDR actions need to be accelerated under MINUSCA's lead.
The involvement of some elements of the army in the destabilisation actions of last days is deeply disturbing and highlights the need to accelerate SSR. The latter is a key objective of MINUSCA's mandate; the EU military advisory mission EUMAM is offering support.
CAR is still a too dangerous place. Let us not lose sight of the still ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting over half of the population. The EU will continue to provide humanitarian assistance for those in need. Yet, fragile as it still is, the country needs stronger bridges between humanitarian aid and longer term development action. This is the objective of the "Bekou" Trust Fund that has mobilised to date more than100 million euro
In closing, C.A.R is at a turning point in its history. It can set an example of recovery and stabilisation. It will require good will but above all determination by the leaders in Bangui and all of us in this room. The EU will continue to do its share.
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