Brussels, 18/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - During its emergency debate last Thursday, the Parliament adopted four resolutions concerning human rights in the following countries:
Moldova: Parliament calls on Moldovan government and parliament to abstain from taking any decision that could endanger the country's social and political balance. It invites the government to conform to fundamental democratic rules and procedures, guarantee the respect of human rights and the rule of law and not misuse its political majority to dissolve democratic opposition. It recalls its concern about the ongoing conflict between the government and the Moldovan Christian Democrat People's Party. The Parliament calls on Romanian and Russian governments not to intervene in Moldova's tricky internal situation and to give their support, together with that of the European Union, to ensure the stable and peaceful development of all the countries of the region. It calls on the Council and Commission to improve the capacities of the Tacis programme and to make an active contribution to settlement of the conflict over Transdniestria, within the framework of the OSCE mandate.
Kyrgyzstan: The Parliament calls on the authorities to begin true dialogue with the political opposition and the representatives of organisations defending human rights. It also invites them to take every possible measure to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Azimbek Beknazarov, MEP and President of Krygyzstan's parliamentary committee for legal and judicial reform. He was arrested on an accusation of power abuse, after having strongly criticised President Askar Akaev. The Parliament calls for an independent, full and impartial inquiry on allegations of torture and ill treatment, as well as respect of Mr Beknazarov's right to a fair trial. The Commission is invited to continue its Tacis programmes for democracy in the republics of Central Asia, in order to develop and consolidate the civil society and to support the independent media.
Tunisia: The Parliament approaches the Tunisian authorities with insistence so that the current trial against Hamma Hammami, leader of the Communist Labour Party, may be continued in strict compliance with international law and for the detainees to benefit from special treatment that will safeguard their safety, health and right to defence, eventually entailing provisional release. It calls on the Tunisian authorities to cease all "restriction" of human rights and to lift all obstacles to the freedom of movement, expression, information and association, as well as to the right of political involvement within a party. It entrusts its parliamentary delegation for relations with Maghreb to tackle the question of a person's rights in Tunisia more firmly, and to follow this trial through in particular.
Sri Lanka: The Parliament welcomes the ceasefire agreement signed by the government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of the Tamul Eelam (LTTE), which took effect on 23 February. It invites the Council and Commission to study as a matter of urgency the possibilities of concrete support for this agreement, especially financial support, in order to tackle the many problems of Sri Lanka, including reinsertion of child soldiers. The Union and its Member States are invited to attend the donors' meeting, scheduled for May, with a comprehensive and coordinated proposal.