News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinecabal-eliteeuropean-uniondefense — Viewing Item


Eu approves first mission outside europe { June 4 2003 }

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp?id=20CAA756-9699-468E-A119-8A2C9549DA0B

http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp?id=20CAA756-9699-468E-A119-8A2C9549DA0B

EU approves French-led Congo peacekeeping mission; first outside Europe
Canadian Press

Wednesday, June 04, 2003
BRUSSELS (CP) - The European Union agreed Wednesday to send peacekeeping troops to strife-torn Congo in what will be the first deployment of its nascent force outside Europe and without NATO help.

EU ambassadors in Brussels approved the mission, to be dubbed Artemis after the Greek goddess of hunting, diplomats said on condition of anonymity. EU ministers were expected to formally ratify the decision Thursday. The 1,400-member force, under French command, was authorized by the UN Security Council last Friday. It will be only the second military mission undertaken by the EU, which will have political responsibility for the operation.

The bloc took over peacekeeping duties in Macedonia last March with about 400 troops, but received planning and logistical support from NATO, which includes the United States.

A mission to northeast Congo, where tribal fighting over the past month has killed more than 500 people, would be a far bigger test of the EU's effort to develop a military wing independent of NATO to add muscle to its foreign policy.

The EU aims to increase its influence on the world stage - especially in American eyes - by speaking with a single voice in foreign affairs. Those aspirations took a battering during the Iraq crisis, when the EU found itself hopelessly divided, but remain alive.

Last month, EU defence ministers declared their rapid-reaction force was ready. It is a pool of 60,000 troops available on short notice for peacekeeping, humanitarian operations and regional crises.

European leaders insist it is not aimed at weakening the Atlantic alliance, but would instead strengthen NATO by sharpening Europe's military capacity.

Having the mission under EU auspices will also ease concerns of the Rwandans, who have considerable influence in eastern Congo but who were uneasy over a French-led operation.

The Congo mission would be the riskiest yet. "The situation is anything but safe or stable at the moment," EU spokesman Diego de Ojeda conceded.

France, which has extensive experience intervening in African trouble spots, will supply the commander of the Congo force and about 700 troops. Britain, Belgium, Sweden and Ireland may also participate along with non-EU nations such as Canada, South Africa, Brazil and Ethiopia, European diplomats say.

The vanguard of the force is expected in the city of Bunia this weekend.

On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced he was sending retired Canadian Forces chief Gen. Maurice Baril and another envoy to help break an impasse over the formation of a new Congolese army.

Annan said he is grateful to France and other countries that have offered troops for a French-led international force to stabilize the situation.

But Annan said the United Nations and the international community also need to press ahead with implementation of a March 6 agreement fleshing out key details of a Dec. 17 power-sharing deal between the Congolese government, its armed and unarmed opponents and civil society representatives - and the formation of a transitional government.

France will hold a conference next week in Paris for countries that want to contribute troops. The final order to deploy and an operational plan should be approved the next day, diplomats said, adding that both were considered formalities.

The force will take over from about 750 beleaguered UN peacekeepers from Uruguay until Sept. 1, when a larger UN force led by Bangladesh is due to be in place.

Diplomats said the EU force would be well armed, backed by mechanized units and would operate under robust rules of engagement to allow it to defend itself and civilians. Its main tasks will be to secure Bunia and its airport and protect aid agencies and tens of thousands of refugees around the city.

© Copyright 2003 The Canadian Press


Big brother show to make eu superstate look cool
Chirac schroeder meet fighting terror eu constitution { March 17 2004 }
Eu approves first mission outside europe { June 4 2003 }
Eu bosnia force to replace nato { October 8 2003 }
EU calls for release of belarus prisoners
EU chiefs back interpol style force to fight terrorism
EU condemns belarus vote readies sanctions
Eu cyber patrol { June 9 2002 }
Eu development of military satellite system { February 27 2004 }
Eu doesnt like us sky marshals
Eu military competition nato
Eu nations set to name antiterror czar { March 19 2004 }
Eu navy { January 29 2003 }
Eu pentagon
Eu plots travel surveillance system { February 5 2004 }
Eu powers { May 16 2001 }
Eu terror coordinator for security measures
Eu to regulate internet television { July 12 2005 }
Eu to track email and phone messages { July 11 2005 }
Euro police borders
Europe agency to protect its borders
Europe intelligence snoop powers increasing { April 11 2006 }
European intel warns { November 15 2002 }
Europeans obstructing cia secret prison probe
Europes leaders meet on terrorism fight
France plays primary role defending hezbollah at EU
France warns iran over uranium enrichment
French spy satellite put into orbit { December 19 2004 }
Germany agrees to lead eu troops congo mission { March 20 2006 }
Germany shaken by plans to withdraw US troops
Italy approves new security laws
Letter bombs criminal conspiracy against democracy
Letter bombs spark review of eu security
Militant imams under scrutiny across europe { January 25 2005 }
Old europe eu army
Uk france join forces combat units { February 9 2004 }
US could access EU data retention information
Us fears blair support of eu military { October 15 2003 }
Youth creating european army

Files Listed: 39



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple