Press Release: EU Presidency welcomes successful handover from EUFOR Chad/CAR to MINURCAT

The Czech Presidency welcomes the successful handover of responsibilities from EUFOR to a United Nations military force of the UN mission in Chad/Central African Republic (MINURCAT) that happened one year after EUFOR had achieved its initial operating capability. The European operation in Chad/CAR, which demonstrated impartiality, neutrality and independence, is a success story. It has been the longest, most heavily manned and most multinational military operation that the European Union has ever conducted in Africa. Positive outcomes in fulfilling its mandate were also achieved thanks to the exemplary cooperation between the EU and the UN, from the launching of the operation to its successful handover.

The EU managed to exert a significant impact on the ground in Chad/CAR through its complementary efforts on the political, diplomatic, humanitarian and development front. In this regard, our intention is to avoid a security vacuum while accomplishing the transition. The EU also plans to further take part in securing continuity in Chad/CAR.

Although EUFOR's mandate formally ended, the EU will remain an active player in the region. Out of almost 3700 soldiers that participated in the operation, around 2000 will remain on the ground and will serve under the MINURCAT banner. The EUFOR also enabled the UN to take up its role and to deploy in favorable conditions. In addition, the European Commission contributed EUR 10 million to MINURCAT's fund to finance its training, equipment and support programme for the deployment of Chadian police and gendarmes. These facts clearly underline the support and dedication of the EU to UN peacekeeping operations and the overall strengthening of EU-UN cooperation in crisis management.


This Press Release served as a basis for the statement of H.E. Mr. Martin Palous, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations at the Security Council Stakeout, on Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Contact: Borek Lizec, Ph.D., Spokesman and General Assembly Coordinator,
cell: (+1) 917 225 6081
e-mail: borek_lizec[at]mzv[dot]cz(borek_lizec[at]mzv[dot]cz)

| Arriba |

• "European Security and Defence Policy @10: What lessons for the future?" - Remarks by EUHR Solana (28/7/2009)
• EUHR Solana welcomes Doha Agreement between Chad and Sudan (5/5/2009)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Security Council: The situation in Chad, the Central African Republic and the subregion (24/4/2009)
• EU Council conclusions on operation EUFOR Tchad/RCA (16/3/2009)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions on Bosnia and Herzogovina, Belarus, Afghanistan, EUFOR Tchad, and more (16/3/2009)
• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions on the European economic recovery plan, EUFOR Tchad/RCA and more (16/3/2009)
• EUHR Solana prepares the transition from EUFOR TCHAD/RCA to MINURCAT II with the UN Special Representative SILVA ANGELO (16/2/2009)