(EU-policy; 06-03; p.2)
So, another deployment of soldiers abroad has
been decided and - as well as the efforts of creating a constitution
- a new European agrarian policy has been agreed on.
A safe haven
Since the world community focuses on African
conflicts again, one of these "new wars" (Herfried Münkler)
has not just become condemned by the United Nations. The Security
Council moreover has decided with
Resolution
1484 of 30/05/03 to strengthen its observer posts in Congo
by a bigger contingent of soldiers.
The German parliament on 18 June eventually
voted for fulfilling the Council's request with up to 350 soldiers
within the framework of the European Union's mission to safeguard
the town of Bunia including its airport (The mission is documented
in the parliament's papers "Bundestagsdrucksache 15/1168"
and "Bundestagsdrucksache 15/1177", the decision in
the parliament's minutes of 18/06/03).
The German contribution however is limited - as long as the situation
does not escalate - to much less personnel-intensive air transport
including evacuation for medical reasons. Personnel involved is
stationed in neighbouring Uganda, thus outside the zones of conflict.
Studying the relevant documents makes clear
that the mission in no way is intended to pacify the whole of
Congo - the single goal is to provide a safe haven for refugees
and people still living in the Bunia region. If this develops
into a crystallising point for further zones of peace or the militias
there simply include the EU-activities in their planning, remains
to be seen. (read on here)