Joint Statement by High Representative / Vice President Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on the adoption of a "Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region"

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, February 25, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The HR/VP Catherine Ashton and Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, welcome the adoption in Addis today of a "Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Region". They commend the UN Secretary General for his strong leadership and the leaders of the region to have chosen dialogue and cooperation as a basis for addressing the many challenges the region is facing.

"We welcome the framework agreement signed today as well as the upcoming appointment of a UN envoy. We also support a stronger MO USCO. These are important steps in order to find sustainable, political solutions for the structural problems both at domestic and at regional level.

By adopting the agreement, leaders of the DRC and the region commit to respect important principles related to good neighbourliness and to take the concrete action at home that is needed.

In this context, we also welcome the contribution provided by the regional mediation between the DRC government and the M23, led by Uganda. The EU calls on the parties to negotiate in good faith and to prevent the resumption of hostilities in eastern DRC.