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France For Effective Peacekeeping in Africa

Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
NEWS
November 23, 2006
Posted to the web November 23, 2006

By Emmanuel Kendemeh

Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni yesterday held talks with French official in
charge of Security and Prevention of Conflicts.
The French High Representative in charge of Security and Prevention of
Conflicts, Pierre-André Wiltzer and Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni yesterday,
November 22 discussed the efforts France has put in place to ensure that
African governments, sub-regional organisations and African Union effectively
keep peace in the continent. The official accompanied to the Prime Minister
Office by the French Ambassador to Cameroon, George Serre, was on the way to
Douala where the VIP Day of the Reinforcement of African Peacekeeping
Capacities (RECAMP V) is taking place today.
Wiltzer appointed in July 2004 works under the authority of the French Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Labour in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence.
His mission concerns reinforcing peacekeeping in developing countries,
especially in Africa within the framework of the Reinforcement of African
Peacekeeping Capacities (RECAMP) programme; different initiatives related to
conflict prevention and getting out of crisis; and working on the financial and
human resources put in place by the international community for effective
conflict management.
After the audience, Pierre-André Wiltzer told journalists that he came to greet
the Prime Minister, and brief him on RECAMP V to officially end in Douala today
with the VIP Day. Today, authorities of the Economic Community of Central
African States (ECCAS), African Union, international organisations and partner
countries will assess the readiness of the sub-region to carry out peacekeeping
operations in the continent as well as inaugurate some micro projects. He said
RECAMP was a French initiative to ensure that Africans effectively keep peace
in their continent. According to him the idea has evolved positively with other
countries and partners giving their support. He stressed that peacekeeping did
not only concern war but a military- civil domain including humanitarian
actions in favour of refugees and displaced persons. RECAMP's missions include
instruction, training and supporting peacekeeping operations according to the
French official. He said RECAMP was not fiction but effective operational in
the continent. He cited conflict management cases in the Central African
Republic and in other parts of the continent where RECAMP made the peacekeeping
contingents more operational by giving assistance through training,
transportation and equipment.


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