RESOLUTION(1)

on the situation in Guinea-Bissau

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Strasbourg (France) from 29 March to 1 April 1999,

- having regard to the recommendations of the Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers of the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), meeting on 3 July 1998 in Abidjan,

- having regard to the Praia declarations adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the community of countries which have Portuguese as their official language (CPLP), meeting in Cape Verde from 13 to 17 July 1998,

- having regard to the Abuja (Nigeria) peace agreement which has been signed by the President of Guinea Bissau, General João Bernardo Vieira, and General Ansumane Mané on behalf of the military junta and which has enabled ministerial portfolios to be distributed and a government of national unity to be formed,

A. concerned at the devastating consequences of the military operations which have been conducted in Guinea-Bissau (destruction of infrastructure installations and massive exoduses, particularly of the country's managers),

B. concerned at the situation of refugees who are living in difficult circumstances,

C. having regard to the Lomé (Togo) peace agreement which supplemented the Abuja agreement and enabled ministerial portfolios to be finally allocated and a government of national unity to be formed under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in December 1998,

D. whereas the peace agreement concluded in Abuja (Nigeria) provides for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the formation of a government of national unity and the holding of general elections,

E. concerned at the continuing involvement of foreign troops, some of whom have been accused by international human rights organisations of human rights abuses against civilians,

F. welcoming the decision by the European Commission to release emergency humanitarian aid,

1. Calls on the conflicting parties to observe and fully implement the Abuja (Nigeria) agreement which was signed on 1 November 1998 by President João Bernardo Vieira and by General Ansumane Mané;

2. Calls on the conflicting parties not to interrupt the peace negotiations, so that a peaceful, lasting solution can be found to the crisis and so as to allow the rule of law to be re-established and to enable the country's institutions to function;

3. Supports the combined mediation efforts made by the CPLP contact group and the countries in the sub-region under the auspices of the ECOWAS with a view to encouraging a dialogue between the conflicting parties and to bringing about a peaceful solution;

4. Stresses that any lasting peaceful solution will require a process of national reconciliation leading to guaranteed respect for Guinea-Bissau's independence and territorial integrity;

5. Denounces the destabilising role of all foreign troops in the conflict and calls for their withdrawal, with the exception of the ones agreed by both parties within ECOMOG, as a prior condition for the implementation of the peace accord and the installation of the new government;

6. Urges the two parties to the conflict to observe the principles of international humanitarian law and to refrain from using children in the pursuit of war or for the setting up of private militias;

7. Calls on the neighbouring countries to do all they can to help consolidate peace and national reconciliation which, in particular, will enable the free movement of persons and goods to be reestablished;

8. Calls on its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the Commission, the Secretaries-General of the UN, the OAU, the ECOWAS and the CPLP and to the Guinea-Bissau People's National Assembly.

(1) Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly on 1 April 1999 in Strasbourg (France).