The Danish helping hand to the French in Mali continues

(BRUSSELS2) The Danes have decided to extend for 3 months the support of their Hercules C-130 aircraft to the French operation in Mali (Operation Serval) and to the African forces of Misma. This announcement comes a few days after the Danish Foreign and Defense Ministers' field visit in early March.

Denmark's interest

« It is in Denmark's interest to help the French in their efforts in Mali. The French are carrying out an important task on our behalf. They prevent Mali from becoming (the field of action) action groups or support for terrorism. said Nick Haekkerup, Minister of Defence. " Our Hercules plane is going to lend a hand to the French. I know from the French that they are really happy with our support, and the professional quality of the work of the Danish soldiers.. Same appreciation for his Foreign Affairs counterpart, Villy Søvndal: “ My recent visit to the Minister of Defense in Mali has reinforced my view that the task we have undertaken is important and significant”.

The military is not enough

But he immediately warned: the military is not enough, political efforts are also necessary. I must always insist that the importance of the military effort be followed by progress on the political level, in particular on the holding of elections in 2013 and the need to initiate an inclusive dialogue between all the ethnic groups in mali. There has been some political progress — he notes — enough for Denmark and a number of other donors to decide to resume development cooperation with Mali. But it is still too slow, and on the Danish side, we will keep the pressure on the Malian government to keep the promises made to its people. (like) to the international community. »

NB: Denmark announced the payment of 12 million crowns to AFISMA (the African-led stabilization mission) and had decided last year to allocate 125 million crowns to a new Sahel initiative from 2013 to 2017.