EU welcomes Mano River dialogue

The European Union (EU) has expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the dialogue begun in August between the Mano River Union countries, in particular recent meetings involving their foreign ministers in Monrovia (Liberia), Freetown (Sierra Leone) and Conakry (Guinea). Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone make up the Mano River Union, an all but defunct organisation set up to pursue sub-regional integration. The EU said in a statement on Monday that it welcomed declarations and commitments made at the meetings, particularly with regard to joint action by these states against forces that destabilise the region, the establishment of a joint patrol at their borders and fighting the proliferation of small arms. It called on the countries to make progress on those issues "as quickly as possible". The EU also welcomed the prospect of a Mano River summit in January 2002 as proposed by the foreign ministers. The EU said it wished to "assure the three heads of state of its support in their search for a solution to the conflicts persisting in the subregion". It added that it was willing to contribute to the dialogue between the three countries, "in particular through the (EU) Presidency's Special Representative for West Africa, Hans Dahlgren".