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Austria extends participation in EU Mali, DRC missions

Xinhua, June 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Austria is to continue participating in European Union peacekeeping and restoration missions in Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the main committee of the National Council decided Wednesday.

The decision extends the stay of Austrian soldiers in Mali until the end of June 2016, and for those in the DRC until the end of August 2016, the parliament stated in a press release.

The staff in Mali, currently consisting of up to 20 people, primarily make up headquarters personnel and medics. However, there will be additional personnel who will support the Mali forces by providing them with training in military fundamentals as from August.

The DRC mission will be scaled down from the end of June, to a so-called "micro mission" involving up to 10 people, and going forward will also primarily involve reforming the local forces.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz said the EU missions in Africa were necessary for stabilization and security and in establishing the rule of law, though added it remained to be seen whether the efforts toward establishing freedom would be successful. Endit