THE international community must continue to play a supportive role in the ongoing crisis in the Great Lakes region of Africa, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, told the Government lunch in honour of the President of Zimbabwe, Mr Robert Mugabe.
"It is now generally accepted that a comprehensive political approach, not merely a humanitarian response, will be necessary to resolve the problems of the Great Lakes region, and African primacy in that process will be critical", Mr Bruton added.
Efforts must be redoubled towards finding a "more global resolution" of the problems of the region as a whole. The holding of an international conference on peace, security and development under the aegis of the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity would be a sensible initiative in this context.
"Such an approach should be, Africa driven but with the support of the international community. I hope the European Union will build on the good work it has been doing in the recent past and that this approach can mark the beginning of a new, mutually fruitful partnership between Africa and the international community", he added.
