EU's Solana confident Germany to lead Congo mission

By Staff
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STOCKHOLM, Mar 17 (Reuters) European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said today he was confident that Germany will lead an EU mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo to provide military protection for elections in June.

The United Nations, saying its 17,000 peacekeepers in Congo are overstretched, has asked the EU for troops to help safeguard the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Asked in Sweden if he was confident Germany would lead the force, Solana said: ''I think that it is already done.'' He told reporters after talks with his Swedish counterpart that he would fly to the Congolese capital Kinshasa this weekend to discuss the mission with visiting UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Congolese President Joseph Kabila.

Elections in the vast central African country the size of Western Europe were originally meant to be held in 2005, but fighting in the east and wrangling between the former warring factions now sharing power has stalled democratic reform.

Solana said his talks in Kinshasa would focus on ''some of the elements which still have to be solved of the electoral law''. The long-awaited law was approved by Kabila last week, setting the stage for elections scheduled for June 18.

At least 10 EU countries are expected to take part in the Congo mission but details are still sketchy. Germany is under pressure to lead it but had said until now it first wanted to see how much other European countries would contribute.

Solana would not comment on reports that the EU planned to send 1,300 troops, saying only its aim was to be a ''deterrent''.

Germany will host a meeting of European defence officials next week to discuss military issues regarding the mission.

''The countries which have signalled they may provide troops will sit down with us and begin to plan in preparation for offering military advice, which will be important,'' said a spokesman for the German defence ministry.

France, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Poland and Portugal have been cited as possible contributors, though Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds, speaking to reporters with Solana, said of Sweden's contribution: ''Nothing is decided yet.'' German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told parliament that if other nations were prepared to support the mission, his government could ask parliament for approval.

''From my point of view we would not be able to refuse to take part in a joint European effort which was fairly shared if the criteria we have named are fulfilled,'' he said, adding that it must have a clear UN mandate and a defined duration.

REUTERS SHR RN2106

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