We are following developmentsin the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) closely. We appeal for the restoration of constitutional order, faster stabilisation of the situation in the area of security and normalisation of the extremely difficult humanitarian situation in the country.

We strongly believe that the main responsibility for finding ways to settle the crisis in the CAR lies with countries in the region, with the assistance of the international community according to UN Security Council resolutions 2121 and 2127.

We believe that the decisions to tender their resignation by the leader of the CAR Michel Djotodia and the Prime-Minister of the country Nicolas Tiangaye, for the transition period, were dictated by an aspiration to contribute to the activation of a peace process in this African state on the basis of the Libreville agreements of 11 January 2013, the roadmap of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) of 18 April 2013 and the agreements reached at the N'Djamena summit of the ECCAS of 9-10 January.

We expect the CAR's National Transition Council (NTC), the supreme legislative body of the country, to approve the new head of state for the transition period, within the deadlines set by the Constitutional Charter, until democratic and parliamentary elections are held in the Central African Republic.

13 January 2014