IP/08/311
Brussels, 27 February 2008
Louis Michel calls for resumption of the democratic process in Chad Commissioner Michel is to attend a political meeting at N’Djamena today with a view to relaunching the democratic process in Chad. The meeting will be attended by the main international facilitators, representatives of civil society and representatives of the presidential majority and the opposition who form part of the Follow-Up and Support Committee for the Political Agreement of 13 August. Before leaving for N’Djamena, Mr Michel called on all parties to relaunch inter-Chadian political dialogue and to implement the Agreement of 13 August. He said: “Recent events have demonstrated the urgent need to restore trust between political players and the various components of the nation. The attempted coup by rebel movements and the period of instability which ensued cannot and must not deflect the government and the opposition parties from their chosen path. I remain convinced that Chad must engage politically with all its internal players if it is to achieve lasting stability.”
He continued: “If trust is to be restored it will be necessary to shed light on arrests and the disappearance of political leaders. This will provide the parties with a sound footing on which to relaunch proper preparations for the electoral process, culminating in free and transparent elections in 2009.”
During his last visit to Chad, on 21-22 January 2008, a few days before the rebels’ attempted coup, Commissioner Michel met representatives of the opposition. He took the opportunity to welcome the progress made on the political agreement of 13 August 2007 and said that the agreement was essential to bring about stabilisation and reconciliation before free elections in 2009.
Background:
Following more than eight months of negotiations conducted under the aegis of the EU, and the European Commission in particular, a process of political dialogue between the parties of the presidential majority and the republican opposition culminated on 13 August 2007 in a political agreement to strengthen the democratic process in Chad, signed by 83 of the 87 existing parties.
The European Commission supports the process of political dialogue in Chad to the tune of €5 million as part of its support programme for reform of the country’s electoral system. The European Commission has also helped to fund the population census to the tune of €5 million within the framework of the stability instrument. In addition, good governance is the first financing item of the 10th EDF, with €99 million earmarked for that purpose for 2008-13.
The Commission has also provided €30 million in humanitarian aid to displaced persons and refugees in Chad.
