Brussels, 05/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - On behalf of the EU, the Swedish Presidency has made the following declaration: "The EU has followed recent developments in Zanzibar and in mainland Tanzania with dismay, and deeply regrets all loss of life. The EU condemns the killings, assaults, mass arrests and other human rights abuses carried out by the security forces against civilians exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. The confidence of the international community in Tanzania has suffered a serious setback. If the excessive use of force and human rights abuses committed by the security authorities continue, this will inevitably have an impact on the European Union's relations with Tanzania. The EU urges the Government of Tanzania to take immediate and concrete steps to peacefully resolve the crisis, with full respect for the rule of law and human rights. The European Union calls on the Government of Tanzania immediately to stop the violent actions of the security forces, and on all parties to abstain from political violence and to enter into a dialogue with the aim of reaching acceptable solutions. The EU stands ready to assist in promoting a dialogue between the Government of Tanzania, the Government of Zanzibar and the opposition.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the EU, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the EEA align themselves with this declaration."