Mr President, since May 2000, eight Portuguese citizens have been held prisoner in the territory of Cabinda. These people are workers who were forced by necessity to leave their country and they are also citizens of the European Union to whom all the governments of the Union have responsibilities. The fact that, on our initiative, Parliament is discussing this issue is therefore to be warmly welcomed. We feel that a very clear position of principle is involved: it is unacceptable to imprison peaceful citizens in order to make political demands. I therefore call on all those who are detaining these Portuguese citizens to release them immediately, in a gesture of humanitarian good will, which is the only thing that can help their captors' cause. The situation of our fellow citizens is obviously close to our hearts and, in order to ensure their release, we will do whatever is necessary, in accordance with our principles. This does not mean, however, that we are unaware that there are many conflicts, including the conflict in Cabinda, that do not reach the public’s attention as a result of the way we ignore Africa. We know that the current situation in Cabinda is extremely harsh for the Cabindese. Although they coexist with powerful international interests, in a territory that produces hundreds of millions of barrels of oil, they endure the most extreme poverty. Let no-one be under any illusions, because these ghettos of prosperity in which huge international companies set up on the coastline, protected by mercenaries and government troops, are an echo and a portrait of a colonial-style situation. We also know that there is no real political freedom, freedom of expression or free opportunity for the people of Cabinda to develop fully their cultural and religious identity which would allow them to argue for all that they want in a legal and peaceful way. We know that war is raging in most of the territory, together with human rights violations against the people of Cabinda, which have been condemned in all international reports. There is no need to look any further than the reports by Amnesty International, which detail the extrajudicial executions, the systematic use of torture, the murder of civilians and the destruction of villages all suffered in Cabinda. These are facts that it would be hypocritical to ignore and that it suits many people to conceal. I shall not do this! Just as I call on those who are holding our fellow citizens to release them immediately, given the possibility of their release, I urge the Angolan authorities not to initiate or intensify military operations that could put the lives of the Portuguese who are being held at risk. They share responsibility for the situation that has arisen and we will be watching events closely. The adoption of a constructive position by the Angolan Government would obviously be welcomed by the international community. As a matter of fact, in the recent past, contacts have been established and direct negotiations have taken place between the Angolan Government and those fighting for independence in Cabinda, and the international community can only support this approach. Whatever reasons the men and women of Cabinda may have, making these Portuguese workers suffer will not help their cause. This is a unique opportunity to release these people in full view of the international community. We call once again for this to be done.

Political group: PPE-DE