B4-0076, 0092, 0114, 0116 and 0129/97

Resolution on the situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly eastern Zaire

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in eastern Zaire, particularly that of 12 December 1996 ((Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 10.)),

- having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 20 January 1997,

- having regard to the recent mission by Commissioner Bonino to Zaire,

- having regard to the UN Security Council declaration of 7 February 1997,

A. extremely concerned by the escalation of the conflict in eastern Zaire, the presence of foreign troops and mercenaries in the area and the grave risk of a generalized and open war among the countries of the region,

B. highly alarmed at the fate of hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced Rwandan, Burundian and Zairean citizens who are on the move in eastern Zaire and falling victim to the civil war,

C. deploring the deep divisions in the Council, which, added to the position adopted by the United States, have caused refugees to be abandoned to their fate, obstructed any substantial diplomatic initiative to find a solution to the regional crisis, and, in effect, prevented the deployment of the multinational force that could have prevented the escalation of the conflict and saved the lives of many defenceless civilians,

D. shocked by the recent murders and attacks committed in western Rwanda against foreign personnel and in particular the killing of three Spanish members of Médecins du Monde on 19 January 1997 in Ruhengeri, a Canadian priest on 2 February 1997 in the same area and four UN personnel and their driver on 4 February 1997 in Cyangugu, which constitute a grave threat to the reintegration of refugees and to the reconciliation process,

E. pointing out the strong denunciation by Amnesty International of the human rights violations in Burundi, where the army is responsible for massacres of civilians, and having regard to the political stalemate facing the country - despite the mediation efforts of former President Nyerere and the EU special envoy, Mr Ajello - and the arrest in Bujumbura of the Secretary- General of FRODEBU, Augustin Nzojibwani,

F. convinced that the solution to the problems confronting the refugees and displaced persons is intrinsically linked to lasting comprehensive political solutions at regional level,

G. regretting that the UN International Tribunal for Rwanda, based in Arusha, so far seems unable to implement its mandate,

1. Condemns the escalation of the fighting in eastern Zaire that constitutes a grave threat to the stability of the region and endangers the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians; expresses its profound concern at the humanitarian consequences of the situation in the African Great Lakes and eastern Zaire, and at the difficulties encountered by the international organizations in bringing assistance to those in need;

2. Calls on all the warring parties to end the fighting and sign a cease-fire immediately;

3. Condemns the presence of foreign troops and mercenaries in eastern Zaire and calls for all the militias operating in the region to be disarmed; calls on all foreign governments presently involved in the conflict to withdraw their troops; and reaffirms its commitment to respect for the territorial integrity of the States in the region and the inviolability of their borders;

4. Urges that humanitarian corridors be set up as a matter of urgency, under the aegis and protection of the United Nations, in order to reach the thousands of refugees and displaced persons still without humanitarian assistance;

5. Supports strongly the organization of a 'regional conference for peace, security and stability' envisaged by the Commission and the Council, and calls on the governments in the region to seize this opportunity; considers that this conference, under the aegis of the UN and the OAU, should identify the conditions for peace, reconciliation and the relaunching of the processes of democratization in these countries, in order to end the spread of violence in the African Great Lakes;

6. Regrets profoundly the absence of a coherent and coordinated European policy for the Great Lakes region and considers that the Council must adopt urgently a joint action in accordance with the Treaty to promote national reconciliation, the rule of law and democracy in the countries in the region in order to find a political solution to this regional crisis;

7. Supports the decision of Commissioner Bonino to demand a full explanation from the EU and the UN Secretary-General on the inadequate response of the international community to the refugee crisis in eastern Zaire;

8. Calls on the UN Secretary-General, the Council and the Member States to do what is necessary so that the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda can function properly to judge those responsible for the genocide in 1994;

9. Demands that the Kigali Government fully respects the security of the refugees returning to Rwanda and their right to recover all their possessions abandoned in 1994;

10. Condemns strongly the murders in Rwanda of local people and expatriates and sends its condolences to the families of the victims and to the organizations to which they belonged;

11. Demands that the Government of Rwanda set up an ad hoc commission to investigate these murders and bring the guilty parties to justice; calls on the Member States of the European Union to assist the Government of Rwanda to set up this commission of inquiry and to monitor its proceedings thoroughly until the facts have been satisfactorily investigated;

12. Calls on the Government of Burundi and the various political forces to engage without hesitation in a political process of national dialogue so as to arrive at a consensual institutional transition which can put an end to the violence in the country; calls for the immediate release of the Secretary-General of FRODEBU, Mr Nzojibwani;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Secretaries-General of the UN and the OAU, and the governments of Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the United States.