IP/08/359
Brussels, 28 February 2008
Louis Michel calls for political talks in Chad to restart Commissioner Louis Michel, making his second visit to the country in less than a month, has called for political talks between the presidential majority and the opposition in Chad to restart. Among other things, Louis Michel took part in two meetings with political representatives of the presidential majority and the democratic opposition. He used the opportunity to call on political leaders from across the spectrum to restart their work on implementing the Political Agreement of 13 August 2007, which provides for a reform of the electoral system and the organisation of free, open elections by 2009.
Commissioner Michel stated: "I call on all of Chad's political leaders to kickstart political talks and to meet each other to get political dialogue moving again." He added: "Chad's problems can be resolved only if Chadians want this. The majority and the opposition must also be prepared to trust each other."
During a meeting with President Idriss Déby Itno, Louis Michel also received an assurance that the state of emergency declared in mid-February would end as soon as possible and that the disappearance of political opponents would be thoroughly investigated. For this purpose, President Déby was open to the creation of a joint commission of enquiry with an international presence on which the European Union is invited to be represented.
He was then able to meet one of the opposition leaders, Mr Lol Mahamat Choua, who had been detained and placed under house arrest in recent days. Commissioner Michel asked that Mr Lol be freed quickly and be allowed to take his place alongside other stakeholders in the process of political dialogue between the opposition and the majority in Chad.
