From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: SOMALIA: ACP divided over EC decision to use LOME funds
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 23:25:47 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Africa, general
Title: SOMALIA: ACP divided over EC decision to use LOME funds


an inter press service feature

by alecia mckenzie

luxembourg, sep 29 (ips) -- when the european community (ec)
agreed earlier this month to send 550 belgian troops to somalia to
help protect aid convoys, the decision was welcomed by the united
nations.

but the financing of the operation is continuing to draw
criticism from some members of the african, caribbean and pacific
(acp) group of states.

the cost of maintaining the troops for a year in the war-torn
country has been set at 37 million dollars, of which the ec will
pay 27 million dollars, and belgium and the united nations five
million dollars each.

but the ec's contribution will be drawn from development funds
allocated to somalia under the lome ii and iii conventions --
special development aid agreements between the ec and the acp.

this decision is considered ''shameful'' and a ''dangerous
precedent'' by several acp officials, while others stress that
somalia urgently needs help and by whatever means necessary.

the matter is causing disagreement among the regional blocs in
the 69-member group, which has been experiencing increasing
internal friction during the past year.

critics of the ec plan formally voiced their complaint tuesday
during the acp-eec joint assembly being held this week in
luxembourg.

''why is it necessary to use development funds when that money
will be needed to rehabilitate the country after the war,''
orlando marville, the barbadian ambassador to brussels asked
european parliamentarians and european commission officials.

another acp official added: ''as usual the money comes back to
europe, it's shameful.''

the group's official line however, has been one of tacit approval
of the ec plan, although critics within the acp say that their
partners who support the proposal are allowing what amounts to a
''sellout'' of somalia.

but afamasaga toleafoa, who currently holds the rotating
presidency of the acp's bureau of committee of ambassadors,
dismisses the criticism. on the same day that the ec approached
the acp with the proposal, he had written a letter on behalf of
his colleagues, urging the ec to take action to help somalia.
(more/ips)

somalia: acp divided over ec decision to use lome funds(2-e)

somalia: acp (2)

''the ec approached us with their plan because there is nobody
representing somalia here,'' he explained. ''we left it up to the
community to consult the rules of the lome convention. but we
believe something has to be done because so many people are dying
in somalia. that is our concern.''

the ec desk officer for somalia, yasmin soezen, was equally
dismissive of the criticism. ''maybe spending the money on troops
is not the best thing, but something has to be done to stop the
bandits who are attacking aid convoys,'' she said. ''that is the
priority now.''

soezen added that ''in a situation like somalia'', the ec has
no other funds available.

the funds to be used for the troops come from the lome
''indicative programme'' and are usually spent on the building of
hospitals, roads, schools or whatever else the country concerned
thinks is necessary.

some acp officials like marville are however concerned that
there will be no money available for somalia to rebuild once the
war is over.

meanwhile, the belgian troops will be leaving for somalia any
time now. the troops are the ec's contribution to a larger,
international protection force.

according to a spokesperson for the belgian ministry of foreign
affairs, the u.n. specifically requested belgian troops from the
ec because the belgians have proven themselves in croatia, where
650 of them are among the peacekeeping forces.

in addition, said the ministry official, belgians are known for
their knowledge of different languages and their flexibility in
different situations. ''we do have some experience in africa. a
lot of our people have been to zaire and rwanda for training and
so on,'' the official said.

but in reaction to this comment, an acp official remarked,
''and what about the french and the italians, they don't have
experience in africa?  suppose other ec countries decide they,
too, want to send troops to somalia and be paid for it out of the
indicative funds? what then?''

another acp representative at the joint assembly, kenyan member
of parliament ntana lewa, suggested that kenyan troops should be
used instead of belgians because they know the area and the
people.   ''what happens when the european troops leave? he asked.
''we cannot keep on calling them to come back.''

but even as the acp and the ec grapple with such questions, the
fighting and dying is continuing in war-torn, drought stricken
somalia with an estimated 1.5 million people facing starvation.
(end/ips/ip-cd/am/cpg/92).