German Minister of State Pieper congratulates ECOWAS on its successful mediation in Mali

BONN, Germany, April 13, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Minister of State Cornelia Pieper issued the following statement today (12 April) on the successful mediation by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Mali and the appointment of Dioncounda Traoré as interim president:

I congratulate ECOWAS on its mediation efforts, which have been successful so far. They provide a basis for Mali to gradually move towards restoring constitutional rule. The swearing in of the interim president today is a key step on this path. I call on all parties to take the remaining steps as quickly as possible.

The German Government is deeply concerned about the dangers presented by continued extremist violence and terrorism in northern Mali. It is now vital to safeguard Mali's territorial unity and to put a stop to attacks on the civilian population in the north.

I call on all parties to refrain from using any kind of violence and to enter into a dialogue with one another. Germany expressly continues to support the ECOWAS and the African Union in their efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in northern Mali.