Europe must face up to its responsibilities and at the same time urge firm and determined political and military action by the international community to put an end to the violence and restore peace in Liberia”. The appeal is made by Caritas Europe in a letter signed by its president, Denis Viénot, and addressed at Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, Chris Patten, European Commissioner for external relations, and Javier Solana, Senior EU Representative for foreign policy and common security. According to Caritas, “a UN resolution to permit the entry of an international force into Liberia is urgently needed. Such a force should support the efforts of the peace process, including progressive disarmament, the demobilization of the warring factions and the establishment of an interim government of national unity”. “The existing sanctions on the trade in weapons and the export of gold, diamonds and timber must says Caritas be maintained until the birth of a solid democracy”. The letter of Caritas, which represents 48 national Caritas agencies active in 44 countries, also cites eye-witness reports by the archbishop of Monrovia, Msgr. Michael Francis, and the director of Caritas Liberia, Stanley Sheriff, who request “aid for the ever growing number of victims” of the conflict. Among the first to respond to the appeal was Caritas Germany, which allocated 245 million euros to the relief of refugees in Liberia.
