EU discusses responses on Côte d’Ivoire and Belarus
EU discusses responses on Côte d’Ivoire and Belarus
Political and security ambassadors assess post-election crises.
Ambassadors from the European Union’s member states held an emergency meeting in Brussels today (28 December) to discuss the crises in Côte d’Ivoire and Belarus.
The meeting is to be reconvened tomorrow afternoon (29 December) for further debate and for conclusions to be agreed.
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The member states’ political and security ambassadors were given an update on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire by the European Commission and by the Situation Centre that is part of the Council of Ministers’ secretariat. Their appraisal touched on refugees, human rights and security as well as on the political negotiations that are under way after the refusal of Laurent Gbagbo to admit defeat by opposition leader Alassane Ouattara in the presidential elections.
The office of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees has estimated that 14,000 Ivorians have fled to neighbouring Liberia and has warned that the number of refugees may double.
A Council official said that the focus of the discussion was how the EU could best support the diplomatic initiatives from Ecowas, the regional grouping of west African states, and from the African Union. An Ecowas delegation of government leaders from Sierra Leone, Cape Verde and Benin went today to Côte d’Ivoire. The outcome of their visit to Gbagbo may be clearer by the time that the PSC issues formal conclusions.
The discussion of Belarus, where opposition politicians and their supporters have been arrested and beaten up, came after the Côte d’Ivoire debate and will be resumed tomorrow.
All member states were represented at the meeting, though not all political and security ambassadors were present, some being represented by a deputy.