Poland supports France's military action in Mali

A photograph made available on 13 January 2012, by the French Army Communications Audiovisual office (ECPAD) shows three French Mirage 2000D fighter planes fly over N'Djamena, Chad, 09 January 2013 before carrying out strikes in Mali. Reports on 13 January 2013 state that airstrikes against Islamist rebels in northern Mali were continuing, as Malian government forces backed by French warplanes fought the insurgents for a third day of a joint offensive: photo - EPA/Nicolas-Nelson Richard

“We are deeply concerned with the escalation of military operations, started by radical rebel groups in northern Mali,” says the statement by Foreign Ministry spokesman Marcin Bosacki.

“These developments carry the risk of further destabilising the whole region,” the ministry says.

“Poland advocates active international cooperation aimed at restoring stability in Mali, in line with the position expressed by the European Union and the spirit of decisions taken by the United Nations and the African Union. We regard France's bilateral support for the authorities in Bamako as understandable,” the statement continues.

France launched military action against Islamist rebels on Friday after the Mali government called for help in taking back the central town of Konna, which fell under control of the insurgents.

The French foreign ministry said that the military operation will take “a few weeks” and called a meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday to discuss the crisis in the west African state.

Since the start of the French intervention, at least 11 Malian soldiers and a French helicopter pilot have been killed.

Poland condemned the spread of the rebellion against the government in the Mali capital of Bamako, which has escalated in recent weeks.

Islamists and other anti-government forces control the north of the country – one of the poorest areas in the world – and have recently extended their operations into the centre of Mali, prompting calls for international assistance.

“We strongly condemn actions by international terrorist groups guided by religious extremism that destabilise the region. Poland attaches great importance to the preservation of democratic values, tolerance, the rule of law and the territorial integrity of the Malian state – one of the founding members of the Community of Democracies,” the Polish foreign ministry said.

“We appeal to the Malian authorities to accelerate work on the road map outlining stages leading to the restoration of constitutional rule in this country,” said the ministry. (pg)