Brazzaville, 04/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday in Brazzaville, the Joint Parliamentary Assembly only just managed to achieve the quorum necessary for adopting resolutions that should bring the work to a close. Just 27 MEPs (the quorum is 26) out of 77 who make up the European Parliament delegation were present during the vote, while almost all 77 ACP countries were represented by at least one national parliamentarian. The Assembly nonetheless adopted a series of resolutions on the situation in the different regions:
West Africa: The Assembly condemns all violation of human rights and international humanitarian law that have been committed in Côte d'Ivoire since 19 September 2002. It stresses the need to bring those responsible for violations to justice and invites all parties, including the government, to take every measure necessary to prevent further violation. It calls upon all parties to work toward a sustainable political solution in the spirit of national reconciliation and respect of the democratic institutions and national territorial unity. The Assembly condemns the continuing conflict in Liberia and invites both parties (armed forces of Liberia and the "Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy") to immediately cease fighting and to take part in peace talks to be held in Bamako under the auspices of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). It calls upon the government of Nigeria to take all measures necessary to ensure respect of the rule of law and of fundamental rights. It calls on Togo to pursue and to intensify the national reconciliation process and to organise democratic, transparent and pluralist elections. The Assembly welcomes the agreement reached between the president and the leaders of the opposition parties in Guinea-Bissau aimed at postponing legislative elections scheduled for 20 April 2003. It also calls for strict compliance with human rights and the organisation of free and fair elections on 6 July 2003.
Central Africa: The Assembly condemns the coup d'état of 15 March 2003 whereby General Bozizé seized the power in the Republic of Central Africa and trusts constitutional order will be restored as soon as possible. It supports the ECOWAS decision to keep interposition forces in RCA, and calls for the organisation of free presidential elections within a minimum time, in the context of EU technical organisation and under the control of the United Nations. The Assembly is pleased with the Pretoria Agreements and calls upon all parties involved to keep their commitments with regards demilitarisation, disarmament and the setting in place of all mechanisms for inter-Congolese dialogue. It calls for foreign troops and paramilitary to be withdrawn if they are still on RCA territory, and calls upon the United Nations Security Council to inflict sanctions (restriction of mobility, bank embargoes) against persons or companies who have participated in the pillage of RCA resources. The Assembly encourages the organisation of future pluralistic and transparent elections in Rwanda. It demands that the national liberation forces (FNL - PALIPEHUTU of Agathon RWASA) unreservedly commit themselves to ceasefire negotiations in Burundi; and that the government and rebels guarantee the safety of observers from the African Union. The Assembly also demands that the government of Equatorial Guinea release all political prisoners and implement a real and verifiable process of democratisation.
Southern Africa: The Assembly invites South Africa to: 1) commit itself still more directly and firmly in combating poverty and social inequality; 2) do everything it can to combat HIV/SIDA; and 3) step up its effort to combat crime. The Assembly welcomes the progress made in national reconciliation in Angola and calls on the Commission to support the de-mining programmes as well as the organisation of an international donors' conference for humanitarian aid and for the rebuilding of a pacified Angola. The Assembly welcomes the position adopted by the Lesotho government against the traffic of influence and corruption. It trusts that this example will be followed by other countries of southern Africa.
East Africa: The Assembly calls for the Eritrean and Ethiopian territories to be delimited as soon as possible, in strict compliance with the decision by the border committee on 13 April 2002. It welcomes the establishment of political pluralism in Djibouti. It calls on the EU to give its active support to the peace process in Sudan. It urges the EU to strengthen its support to the national reconciliation process in Somalia as well as its financial, material and humanitarian aid to the population. It welcomes the fact that presidential and legislative elections took place in December 2002 in Kenya. It calls on the African Union and the European Commission to help the authorities of Comores to find compromise solutions in interpretation of the Constitution concerning the sharing of powers, in order to avoid any further crisis.
Caribbean: The Assembly encourages President Aristide to pursue the process of disarmament and the fight against impunity in Haiti. It calls on the Commission to resume agricultural cooperation with Haiti, including in the stock farming sector, as well as cooperation in the fields of public health and education. It welcomes the efforts deployed by the government of Jamaica to fight against the trafficking of narcotics and other forms of organised crime, and considers that the EU should help this country to improve its police and judiciary system. It approves the efforts deployed in Santa Lucia regarding the diversification of crops and the improved production of bananas, and calls on the EU to support these efforts and also other measures of economic diversification (eco-tourism especially). The Assembly calls on the ACP-EU Council of Ministers to reserve just and impartial treatment to Cuba's request for membership, wihtout any special or non-equitable condition being set. It requests the EU to strengthen its support to the efforts of economic recovery of Dominica. It welcomes the fact that Saint Christophe-et-Nevis has been taken off the FATF black list.
Pacific: The Assembly stresses the importance of the tourism and fishing sectors for this region and calls on the European Commission to take them into account. It trusts that East Timor may sign up to the Cotonou Agreement as soon as possible.
European Union: The European Commission and the Member States are invited to take the necessary measures to implement the objectives defined in the Kyoto Protocol.