RESOLUTION(1)

on the situation in Congo-Brazzaville

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

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

- having regard to its earlier resolutions,

A. expressing deep concern at the extremely tense situation which has arisen in Congo following several months of relative calm and which is reflected in frequent and violent clashes between government forces and private militias,

B. drawing attention to the fact that the ruthless fighting between militias and the regular army backed up by Angolan forces, which is taking place mainly around the capital and in the south of the country, has already claimed several thousand victims among the civilian population,

C. denouncing the acts of violence perpetrated mainly by the militia, the arbitrary arrests and summary executions, and the rising number of human rights violations,

D. concerned in particular about the plight of the Congolese population which the new outbreak of fighting has forced to flee to inland areas or to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and alarmed by the fact that several hundred people have died during the course of this exodus,

E. expressing concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Congo and drawing attention in particular to the great difficulties experienced in bringing in supplies of foodstuffs and medicines and the fact that the capital is frequently deprived of water and electricity,

F. pointing out that the security breakdown in Congo is making the work of humanitarian organisations extremely difficult and that looting is becoming increasingly common,

G. expressing concern at the dissemination of weapons throughout the country, which is exacerbating the prevailing climate of insecurity, and noting the efforts being made by the Congolese authorities to disarm the population,

H. dismayed by the passivity bordering on indifference which the international community has shown with regard to the dramatic situation in Congo and deploring in particular the lack of initiative shown by the EU and its failure to intervene in this conflict despite the major risk of the situation escalating and the whole of Central Africa being caught up in the violence,

I. aware of the urgent need to break the spiral of violence in Congo and finally begin the task of reconstructing that country - something which cannot be done until a climate of national reconciliation has been established,

1. Condemns the acts of violence being committed in Congo and urges both militias and government forces to call a halt to the violence;

2. Considers that national reconciliation is the only way of restoring peace and stability to the country; in this connection, asks the Congolese authorities to show a willingness to foster reconciliation and relieve political tensions by allowing the country's former leaders to return to Congo, so as to enable a dialogue to be established with all the country's political and social movements and the democratic process to be put back on the rails;

3. Calls furthermore on the Congolese authorities to open discussions leading to the re-establishment of the rule of law and democratic institutions in Congo by means of the drafting of a new constitution and the holding of free and democratic elections;

4. Deplores the fact that the European Union, which has a major responsibility to its African partners, is not more closely involved in the settlement of the conflicts proliferating on that continent; calls in particular on the Council and the Commission to foster national reconciliation in Congo;

5. Hopes, in this connection, that foreign intervention of all kinds, including military intervention, will rapidly be brought to an end;

6. Calls on the Commission to step up the provision of humanitarian aid to the Congolese population;

7. Calls on all the parties to the Congolese crisis to ensure the safety of the staff of humanitarian organisations and to facilitate the forwarding of aid to the country's population;

8. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the Commission, the UN and OAU Secretaries-General, and the Congo-Brazzaville authorities.

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