Strasbourg, 16/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a resolution adopted on Thursday 15 January, the European Parliament condemns the seizure of power by a group of army officers on 23 December 2008, the day after the decease of Guinean President Lassana Conté. It calls for free and transparent parliamentary and presidential elections to be organised under the authority of a transitional civil government to be held within coming months (and not two years as suggested by the junta in power).
In Guinea, the mandate of the National Assembly expired two years ago (without an election being called) and Lassana Conté also took power by force in 1984, and stayed there. MEPs therefore hope inter-Guinean dialogue may be held with the participation of all political parties, trade unions and civil society organisations in order to open the way to democratic transition. They also urge the military junta to respect freedom of opinion, expression and association and condemn the arrests and imprisonments of military and civilians without charge. Congratulating the African Union and the ECOWAS for their decisions to suspend Guinea's participation in their activities, MEPs call on the European Commission to stand ready to freeze any form of aid other than humanitarian and food aid, if there is no transition to democracy. They went on to speak of the possibility of penalties targeted against members of the authorities that took over power. (A.B./transl.jl)