Signing of a Preliminary Agreement between the Mali Interim Government and Northern Mali's Armed Groups

By Japan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Signing of a Preliminary Agreement between the Mali Interim Government and Northern Mali's Armed Groups

TOKYO, Japan, June 24, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Japan welcomes the signing of the “Preliminary Agreement to the Presidential Election and Inclusive Peace Talks in Mali” between the interim government of Mali and the northern Mali's armed groups (the National Movement of Liberation of Azawad [MNLA] and the High Council for the Unity of Azawad [HCUA]) at Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso on June 18.

Japan hopes that all the parties concerned will faithfully implement the content of the Agreement, that the Mali presidential election will be carried out as scheduled, and that peace and security in Mali will be swiftly established.

Japan commends efforts of H.E. Mr. Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso, who is the mediator of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Japan also commends efforts of the African Union (AU), neighboring countries of Mali, the United Nations (UN) and other relevant parties. Japan supports the efforts being undertaken by the international community to resolve the situation in Mali.