| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.10, No.17, 13.5.04 |
| Publication Date | 13/05/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 13/05/04 EU FOREIGN ministers are due to take an unprecedented decision to supply arms to a police force in the wider world next week, when they agree to equip a fledgling law enforcement agency in Congo. Diplomats from the Union's 25 states have finalized a plan under which the establishment of an integrated police unit (IPU) would be supported in the former Belgian colony as part of efforts to stabilize it after a ten-year civil war which left up to five million dead. The plan, due to be endorsed by ministers at their next meeting (17-18 May), envisages that some €600,000 would be allocated to the IPU from the EU's 2004 budget. A further €1 million would be provided in cash from six member states - the Netherlands, Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Luxembourg. Separately, Belgium, Hungary and Germany would provide equipment, such as gas masks, machine guns, riot guns or helmets. The EU money will be spent on tear gas cartridges, rifle and hand grenades, rifle grenade launchers, as well as on ammunition. Last year the EU's envoy to the Great Lakes region Aldo Ajello identified the creation of new security force structures as vital for maintaining law and order in Congo. In order to provide equipment for these forces, the Council of Ministers decided to lift a ban imposed in 1993 on selling weaponry to the then Zaire. European Union Foreign Ministers meeting at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 17-18 May 2004, will decide on supplying arms to an integrated police unit (IPU) in the former Belgian colony of Congo. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Africa |
