JOINT ASSEMBLY OF THE CONVENTION CONCLUED BETWEEN THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC STATES AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (ACP-EC)

RESOLUTION () on the situation in Southern Africa

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Luxembourg from 23 to 26 September 1996,

A. having regard to its previous resolution on the developments in the Southern African region,

B. supportive of the Namibian Government's policy on fisheries and the sustainable utilization of other marine resources within Namibia's territorial waters,

C. concerned by the continuous and severe drought situation and water shortage which threatens food production, industry and health in Namibia,

D. encouraged by the continuing dialogue between the government of Angola and UNITA aimed at facilitating the implementation of the fundamental principles of the Lusaka Accord,

E. appreciative of the role played by the European Union and the international Community in assisting the peace process in Angola,

F. noting the continuing efforts of the government of Mozambique to rehabilitate the country's economy and consolidate democratic institutions,

G. welcoming the initiative by the Kingdom of Swaziland to engage in a consultative process with a view to revising the constitution of that country,

H. noting that the current political situation in Zambia concerning the constitutional debate is being addressed by the Government and people of Zambia, as well as the preparations for the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections to be held before the end of the year,

I. noting the on-going negotiation between the government of South Africa and the European Union for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement, as well as South African qualified membership of the Lomé Convention and the Georgetown Agreement,

J. conscious of the fact that South Africa's ability to improve its economy and trade relations will be crucial to the consolidation of its fledgling democracy and to ensuring political stability in the Southern African region as a whole,

K. noting, with concern, the difficulties which have been experienced by the European Union in the course of these negotiations especially as regards their trade aspects, and cognisant of the need for such trade aspects to be supportive of regional economic growth and integration,

L. encouraged by the commitment of the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to the maintenance of political stability and to the realisation of integrated sustainable economic development in the region,

M. welcoming the launching on 28th June of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security,

N. furthermore welcoming the signing on 24 August 1996 of the following SADC protocols:

- Trade;

- Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking;

- Energy; and

- Transport, Communications and Meteorology,

1. Urges the European Union, in its desire to conclude a Fisheries Agreement with the Republic of Namibia, to be mindful of the unemployment situation in that country and the importance of sustaining fisheries resources through scientific research and responsible utilization;

2. Urges the European Union to provide much-needed assistance in the form of food aid, water supply to the rural areas and supply of medical equipment and medication to prevent a large scale increase in drought-related diseases;

3. Encourages the Government of Angola and UNITA to deepen the process of national reconciliation;

4. Calls on the European Union and the international community to continue their assistance to Angola to ensure that the current pace of demobilisation is encouraged and sustained to facilitate the organization of the Angolan Armed Forces as well as assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the economy, democratic institutions, de-mining operations and humanitarian and emergency aid for refugees and displaced persons;

5. Commends South Africa for the support it is giving for training relating to the clearance of land mines in Angola;

6. Reiterates its call to the European Union to continue its assistance for the reconstruction efforts and for the consolidation of democratic institutions in Mozambique and to increase its financial and technical assistance for the removal of land mines to enable demobilized soldiers and others to engage in expanded farming activities;

7. Appeals to the European Union and the International Community to offer the Kingdom of Swaziland financial, material and political support in consolidating that consultative process for the establishment of the country's new Constitution;

8. Welcomes the on-going Inter-Party dialogue being conducted at the initiative of the Government of Zambia, and expresses confidence in the capacity and political will of the people of Zambia to resolve their problems;

9. Welcomes the steps taken by the Zambian Government to put in place mechanisms to ensure that the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections are free and fair, in keeping with the principles of democracy, good governance and respect for human rights;

10. Supports, in this regard, the invitations extended by the Zambian Government to the ACP-EU Joint Assembly and the international community to monitor and observe the elections;

11. Re-emphasizes the need for the greatest possible compatibility between an EU-South Africa trade regime and the Lomé trade regime applied to other SADC countries, in cooperation in Southern Africa;

12. Continues to support South Africa's application for qualified membership of the Lomé Convention, bearing in mind the direct and indirect effects on other countries in the region;

13. Calls on the European Union to make efforts to enable South Africa to become a qualified party to the Lomé Convention and to satisfactorily conclude a meaningful bilateral agreement soon as possible;

14. Regrets the position taken by the European Union to propose a trade arrangement to South Africa which inter alia, excludes a large number of South African export products 'priori` from a trade agreement and without regard to what is truly beneficial for South Africa's and the region's developmental needs;

15. Considers that actions of the European Union need to fulfil the strong political statements of support made to South Africa and Southern Africa contained, inter alia, in the EU's statement of 19 April 1994 and the Berlin Declaration of September 1994;

16. Regrets the failure of the EU to effectively address the question of regional cumulation under the Lomé rules of origin, by stipulating and 'ad hoc` provision that militates against the most effective utilization of this facility to promote regional cooperation;

17. Commends the European Union for its assistance in projects aimed at integrated regional development such as the Regional Tsetse fly and Trypanosomiasis Control Programme (RTTCP) which in conjunction with de-mining operations will enhance the social well-being of the people of the region, and urges the European Union to continue its assistance in this area;

18. Reiterates its call for the European Union to increase its assistance to Southern Africa region as a whole, in keeping with the increase in the membership of SADC;

19. Applauds the aim of the SADC Parliamentary Forum to become the parliamentary arm of SADC, and encourages the Forum and the European Parliament to further deepen and broaden their relations;

20. Considers that there is much scope for cooperation between the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security and the EU in the area of preventive diplomacy, and conflict prevention, management and resolution in Africa;

21. Appeals to the European Union to ensure that food aid and any other emergency aid allocated should be additional to the development aid that may be allocated to the region and be administered in such a way as not to adversely affect the regional economy;

22. Calls upon the European Commission to continue to conduct studies on how the proposed EU-South Africa Free Trade Agreement would impact on South Africa's industry and that of neighbouring states as well as how the proposed agreement can facilitate the deepening of the SADC regional integration process, with particular regard to the SADC Trade Protocol;

23. Calls in this regard on the European Union Member States and the Commission to take account of the high adjustment costs to South Africa - and its SACU and SADC neighbours - of a process of increased trade liberalization as presently proposed by the EU;

24. Urges the European Union and the international community to increase their assistance to the Southern African region to deal with the emergency disaster situation caused by floods and droughts, and also to develop effective long-term disaster preparedness and prevention mechanism in the region;

25. Appeals to the international community and in particular the EU to make an additional allocation of resources to regional cooperation activities in Southern Africa, with a view to combating poverty and fostering functional cooperation programmes;

26. Calls upon the international community, in particular the EU, to continue supporting the democratic process in Southern Africa in the region's efforts to establish democratic institutions necessary for protecting and consolidating infant democracies in the region;

27. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, to the Commission, the Southern African Development Community and the South African Government.