The EU took note of the agreements signed
by representatives of the Army and the Militias, respectively in Pointe
Noire on 16 November 1999 and in Brazzaville on 29 December 1999, and welcomes
the appointment of President Bongo of Gabon as mediator for an all-inclusive
dialogue.
Both of those agreements represent significant
steps forward on the path towards pacification and national reconciliation
in the Republic of Congo, whose people are still suffering the effects
of a prolonged and disruptive armed conflict.
The EU therefore calls upon all Congolese parties to renounce violence and firmly commit themselves to the opening of an all-inclusive national dialogue in order to:
- reach a comprehensive and lasting end to hostilities;
- lead to full respect of human rights, the rule of law and the restoration of democracy through the holding of free and fair elections.
If progress takes shape towards establishing free, transparent and pluralistic elections, the European Union may consider assistance, beyond emergency humanitarian aid, to contribute to the restoration of peace, democracy and development in Congo-Brazzaville.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.