EU defence ministers discuss military operations

An informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers was held in the Greek capital Athens on Thursday and Friday, chaired by Greek defence ministers Dimitris Avramopoulos on behalf of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. It consisted of 3 working sessions dedicated to the follow up to the EU summit on security and defence held last December, ongoing EU operations, and the situation in the Central African Republic. A statement by Ashtons office here today noted that NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the UN Undersecretary General for Peacekeeping Herv{ Ladsous attended parts of the meeting. "As we prepare to deploy in the Central African Republic, the EU will soon be conducting 5 military operations, a clear confirmation of the growing role of the Union as a security provider," said Avromopoulos. The EU ministers addressed the state-of-play and perspectives for the four ongoing EU military operations -- EU anti-piracy mission NAVFOR Atalanta, EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, EUTM Somalia, and EUTM Mali. A separate session was devoted to the Central African Republic. The operation EUFOR RCA was established by the EU on 10 February and will be deployed as soon as possible with the specific purpose to protect civilians. Ministers were briefed by the United Nations on its assessment of the situation, and by the newly appointed Operation Commander for EUFOR RCA, Major General Philippe Ponti}s, on force generation and the state of preparation of the operation's deployment. Ministers expressed concern at the situation in the Central African Republic and called for the swift deployment of the EU operation, added the statement.