BERN, Switzerland, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today, Switzerland and the European Union have signed an agreement on Switzerland’s participation in the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali). The agreement will enable Switzerland to support EUTM Mali with civilian expertise.
The signing today of the agreement between Switzerland and the EU on Swiss participation in EUTM Mali paves the way for Switzerland to second a civilian expert to EUTM Mali. The secondment of this Swiss expert – a media analyst – is planned for this year and will complement Switzerland’s involvement in peacebuilding in Mali and support the EU’s efforts to stabilise the Sahel region.
EUTM Mali aims to strengthen the Malian army’s capacities in the fields of management, logistics, personnel, human rights and international humanitarian law, and in this way contribute to the stabilisation of Mali and the whole region.
As part of its commitment to multilateral civilian peacebuilding, Switzerland participates in peace missions conducted by both the UN and the EU. Furthermore, Switzerland has been active in Mali for more than 30 years within the framework of its bilateral development cooperation.
Switzerland has a long tradition of seconding civilian experts in the context of its peace, human rights and humanitarian policy. Experts are made available on a needs basis for fixed-term civilian peace projects, for example as election observers, police advisers or specialists in constitutional matters, mediation, the rule of law, human rights and humanitarian law.
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