Brussels, 09/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - At its plenary session in Brussels last week, the Joint Parliamentary Assembly took a stance on the situation in different regions and countries:
West Africa: by adopting a resolution on the situation in West Africa, the Assembly calls on the European Commission to provide all necessary technical assistance for the rapid setting up of all the institutions of the ECOWAS and the WAEMU. It call on all Togolese political players to show "discernment" and "encourage measures of appeasement", and pleads in favour of the release of Mr. Agboybo (lawyer) and his amnesty so that he may recover all his civil rights. The Assembly backs the efforts made by ECOWAS in favour of a durable and definitive resolution to the crisis between the States of the Union of the River Mano and welcomes progress made in the peace process in Sierra Leone.
Central Africa: the Assembly declares itself deeply concerned at the continued violence and the humanitarian situation in Burundi and calls on all signatories to rapidly implement the Arusha Agreement. It calls for the rapid deployment of African peacekeeping forces in view of controlling the implementation of the peace agreement and to protect the transition government, and urges the international community and the European Commission to provide humanitarian aid the Burundi population needs. The Assembly condemns the attempted coup d'état in the Central African Republic and urges all parties concerned to respect Human Rights and the Rule of Law. It deplores the shortcomings noted in the organisations of the presidential elections in Chad, as well as the irregularities that ensued. The Assembly asks the Cameroon Government to agree to the setting up of an independent commission of enquiry responsible for shedding light on the many abuses of power observed these past few months and to determine any possible responsibility of the forces of law an order, as well as to do what is necessary for those responsible for these acts to be sentenced. It congratulates Namibia for having withdrawn its troops from the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and demands that the governments of Angola, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Rwanda do likewise and stop helping the rebel movements. It urges all parties to co-operate unreservedly with the UN group of experts responsible for enquiring into the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other sources of wealth in the DRC.
Southern Africa: The Assembly again calls on UNITA to put an end to its terrorist acts and seriously go down the path of peace in Angola, and urges the Angolan government to remain open to further talks with UNITA. It calls on the United Nations to organise new peace talks between the two parties and urges all parties to the conflict to guarantee access and protection for the personnel of humanitarian organisations. The Assembly calls on the government of South Africa to deploy the necessary efforts to play in favour of sustainable development, increase the standard of living of the majority of the Black population and step-up agrarian reforms in favour of the landless and the poor, as well as to intensify the fight against AIDS and implement a clear programme of prevention, care and treatment for this illness. It also backs this government in its efforts in seeking a solution to conflicts affecting neighbouring countries. Regarding Mozambique and Malawi, it calls on the Commission and the Fifteen to step-up their efforts to ensure the reconstruction of housing and infrastructures following the latest floods.
Sudan: the Assembly calls on the EU and ACP States to increase their support for the IGAD peace process. It welcomes the progress in the EU-Sudan political dialogue, especially the improvement of Sudan's relations with its neighbours and the dissipation of the suspicion of backing for international terrorism that weighed on the country. It calls on the Sudanese Government to clear the paths so that humanitarian aid can get through to the whole population under its authority.
Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland: the Assembly calls on the EU to take immediate measures to remedy the negative effects of the EU/South Africa Trade Agreement on the economy of the countries of the group of the BLNS (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland). The EU is urged to review the support programme for the economic integration of these countries, (put in place mechanisms intended to consolidate the current trade preferences of the BNLS countries beyond 2007 and facilitate, without delay, their exports to the EU market in sectors where the advantages are real.
Caribbean: the Assembly calls on President Aristide and the whole of civil society to implement the gradual reconciliation process recommended by the OAS General Assembly in June so as to lead to the introduction of a system of democratic government in Haiti. It also welcomes the recent visit by the EU Troika to Cuba and urges the Cuban authorities to provide a strong signal of the liberalisation of the regime by releasing political prisoners and abolishing the death sentence, which would enable the EU to also its common position when the latter is reviewed this month. By adopting a resolution on the crisis in the tourism industry in the Caribbean, the Assembly calls on the EU and Member States to examine with European travel agencies and airline companies all possible means of supporting the sector. The Assembly also adopted a resolution on the destruction caused by Hurricane Iris in Belize, calling on the EU to provide aid to the reconstruction of the devastated areas.
Pacific: the Assembly urged the authorities of the Solomon Islands to organise the next elections in a totally transparent manner, under international observation, and to guarantee all the ethnic communities and all shades of society their right to take part in the elections. It urges the EU to provide technical and financial assistance in preparing the elections and to send observers, including MEPs. The Assembly congratulated the population of Fiji for the calm and order in which the general elections were held and urges the EU to resume co-operation with Fiji.
In addition, during the vote in separate colleges, the Assembly rejected two resolutions concerning the situation in Zimbabwe, as well as a resolution on East Africa and the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.