STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENCY ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

ON THE SIGNING OF A PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGER AND THE TUAREG REBELS



"The European Union welcomes the signing of the peace agreement between the Government of the Republic of Niger and the Armed Resistance Organization (ORA). It is heartened by this decisive step towards national reconciliation, which offers hope to the population of Niger and the region as a whole, urges the signatories to do their utmost to consolidate the peace and will in future direct its cooperation with Niger towards attainment of that objective."