Joint Assembly of the Convention concluded between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) - Resolutions adopted on the situation in the Great Lakes region (ACP-EU/2148/97/fin.)

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Brussels from 17 to 20 March 1997,

- recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in the different countries of the Great Lakes region,

- having regard to the declaration of the Dublin European Council and the subsequent statement of the General Affairs Council of 20 January 1997,

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

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

- having regard to developments in the political and military situation in Zaire and the other countries of the region,

A. extremely concerned by the escalation of the conflict in Zaire and by the presence of foreign troops and mercenaries in the area,

B. fearing for the fate of the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons still present in Eastern Zaire, who are threatened by the ongoing fighting, malnutrition and disease,

C. deploring the deep divisions of the EU Council which, added to the position adopted by the United States, have effectively 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. having regard to the demographic, geopolitical and strategic importance of Zaire in the African context of the OAU and the ACP Group,

E. disturbed by the continuing massacres in Burundi and by the lack of any prospect for a negotiated settlement between the warring parties, despite the mediation efforts of ex-President Nyerere and EU Special Envoy, Mr Ajello,

F. noting the OAU's appeal to countries in the region to make an objective assessment of sanctions against Burundi,

G. shocked by the recent murders and attacks committed in Western Rwanda against foreign personnel and by the grave threat to the reintegration of refugees and to the reconciliation process,

H. deploring the fact that the UN International Tribunal for Rwanda, set up in Arusha, seems at present unable to fulfil its mission,

1. Condemns the state of war in Zaire that constitutes a grave threat to the stability of the region and endangers the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians;

2. Affirms its attachment to the principles of the inalterability and inviolability of the borders of Zaire and neighbouring countries;

3. Condemns the presence of foreign troops and mercenaries in Zaire; calls on all foreign governments presently involved in the conflict to withdraw their troops and refrain from any further interference;

4. Calls on the OAU and the EU Council to overcome any divisions, promote a major initiative to actively support the mediation effort of the United Nations and contribute to establishing a means of access to refugees through which humanitarian aid can transit;

5. Offers its cooperation to take an active part in such mediation;

6. Strongly supports the holding of a 'Regional Conference on Peace, Security and Stability` envisaged by the European Commission and the Council of the Union with a programme based on defence of the population's interests, democracy and respect for human rights;

7. Calls on the Commission, the UNHCR and the World Food Programme to step up humanitarian supplies to the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons still trapped in Eastern and Central Zaire;

8. Condemns the continuing massacres of innocent civilians in Burundi and urges the warring parties to stop atrocities;

9. Invites the Burundi Government and the various political movements in Burundi to commence, without hesitation, a political process of national dialogue with a view to achieving institutional transition by consensus, that can put an end to the violence in the country;

10. Calls on the international community to continue to supply its humanitarian assistance to Burundi;

11. Condemns the recent murders and other attacks committed in Western Rwanda against members of international humanitarian organizations and urges the Rwandan Government to conduct thorough investigations in order to bring those responsible for such murders to justice;

12. Calls on the authorities of Rwanda and Burundi to do their utmost to ensure the security of representatives of the humanitarian agencies;

13. Considers that the activity of the International Tribunal for Rwanda is a key factor to stability in the region and underlines the absolute necessity of bringing to justice those responsible for the 1994 massacres in Rwanda, as a fundamental measure to prevent further conflict;

14. Calls on the EU and ACP States which have not yet done so to adopt the necessary legislation to ensure full cooperation with the International Tribunal for Rwanda;

15. Is convinced that the situation in the countries in the African Great Lakes region will ultimately only be stabilized if the process of democratization is relaunched in those countries, in particular by organizing democratic elections;

16. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the Commission, the signatory states of the Lomé Convention and the UN and OAU Secretaries-General.