CONFIDENTIAL
STATEMENT ON ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN OF AFRICA
63RD MINISTERIAL MEETING, EUROPEAN POLITICAL COOPERATION,
BRUSSELS, 21 JULY 1986
"The Foreign Ministers of the Twelve have reviewed their policy towards the Horn of Africa, and agreed that the Twelve should continue to play a constructive role in the area, where they have
Long-standing ties and interests.
They recognise that the persistence of tensions in the region, and related refugee problems, pose grave threat to economic
development and stand in the way of normal relations between the
countries of the region. They note statements by Governments in the region favouring negotiated political settlements, and urge them to pursue this course. They note the role which increased
support for regional projects could play in this context.
In
particular they welcome the opening of talks between Somalia and
Ethiopia. They also welcome Sudanese efforts to achieve a
political settlement of the problems of South Sudan, and urge all
parties to work seriously towards this.
The Twelve urge the Governments concerned to take further steps to
achieve the peaceful settlement of internal conflicts and to
ensure respect for Human Rights in their countries. In this
context they welcome recent
recent releases of political prisoners in
Ethiopia.
The Twelve remain seriously concerned at
seriously concerned at the extent of food
shortages and attach particular importance to measures
to measures to help
prevent further famine and to promote food security.
There has
been a massive response from the Community, the Twelve and the European public. As well as food and other emergency aid, the Community provides Ethiopia, Somalia, the Sudan and Djibouti with a considerable contribution in development assistance with priority to development of peasant farming and the prevention of
further famine.
CONFIDENTIAL
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