STATEMENT from the FRENCH to AFRICANS “We want to tell the Africans, ‘It’s very difficult, it’s more difficult than we were anticipating, and the U.N. can help you.’ - Gérard Araud, French ambassador to the United Nations. --- - On Tuesday, the French ambassador, Gérard Araud, said that at least 10,000 peacekeepers would be required to restore order in the country, along with assistance from the United Nations to rebuild state institutions. - Mr. Araud sought to emphasize that the United Nations would not supplant the African Union force. “It’s obviously an African endeavor,” he told reporters, careful not to invite a dispute with African Union member countries, whose troops the United Nations would need for any mission in Central African Republic. “It’s obviously an endeavor where Africans have taken the burden.” - Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, will present recommendations at the end of February as to whether a peacekeeping force should be deployed. - French soldiers have been GUARDING THE AIRPORT in the capital, Bangui, where tens of thousands of displaced people have erected a makeshift camp. - The European Union has authorized the deployment of a battalion of European troops — roughly 500 to 600 soldiers — TO RELIEVE THE FRENCH. They will arrive within weeks, the European Union envoy to the United Nations, Thomas Mayr-Harting, told reporters on Tuesday. - The Security Council measure authorizes those troops to use “all necessary measures” to help African Union forces. They will be there for up to six months. Full article >> nytimes/2014/01/29/world/africa/un-central-african-republic.html?_r=0
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 23:06:44 +0000
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