B4-1081, 1091, 1132, 1143 and 1150/98

Resolution on Sudan

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

B. concerned that both the Sudanese Government and rebels are committing widespread human rights violations, despite repeated appeals from the international Community,

C. deeply concerned by the Sudanese Government's policy of suppressing religious freedom, particularly in respect of Christian communities, as exemplified by the trial, which began in July 1998, of 18 individuals including two Sudanese priests, Father Sebit and Father Boma, who have been tried before a criminal court instead of a civil court and have been subjected to torture and maltreatment,

D. deeply concerned by the civil war which has continued in Sudan for more than 15 years and has caused immense human suffering, particularly among civilians, gross human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, massive displacement and the breakdown of economic and social structures,

E. seriously concerned by the threat of famine which is continuing to loom over thousands of people in southern Sudan, particularly in Bahr al Ghazal, despite the ceasefire (due to expire on 15 January 1999) established in that province to permit the distribution of food,

F. having regard to the mediation undertaken by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the endeavour to reach a peaceful settlement of this conflict, which has regional implications,

G. alarmed by the continuing arms flows to all parties in the conflict, which have fuelled the fighting and multiplied its lethal impact on the civilian population, and by the widespread use of landmines by all combatants,

H. whereas a UN embargo on weapons and related material for Sudan is a priority measure to prevent further escalation of the conflict,

The European Parliament,

1. Reiterates its condemnation of the Sudanese Government for its repeated violations of human rights and international humanitarian law;

2. Condemns the supply of arms to the parties to the Sudan conflict and calls on EU Member States and associated countries to promote, in the Security Council, a UN embargo on the supply of weapons, ammunition, spare parts, repairs, maintenance and transfer of military technology and assistance to all parties to the Sudan conflict;

3. Calls on the EU associated countries to adhere to the EU embargo, support a UN arms embargo and abide by the principles and criteria of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, as stated in the declaration of 3 August 1998 by the European Union and the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and EFTA members;

4. Calls on the Member States and associated countries to develop mechanisms to monitor the EU embargo, investigate reported violations and hold those perpetrating them accountable;

5. Calls on the Sudanese Government to ratify and strictly comply with the 1997 Mines Ban Treaty, to sign and accede to the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, and to accede to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the 1997 Protocols I and II Additional to the 1949 Geneva Convention;

6. Supports the mediation efforts undertaken by the IGAD with the aim of establishing the conditions for a lasting peace and lasting stability for Sudan and its neighbours, and calls on each of them to refrain from any action likely to impede or harm the peace process;

7. Urges all the parties to consolidate the provisional ceasefire agreement operating in Bahr al Ghazal by making it permanent and general;

8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue sanctions and the suspension of development aid until the Sudanese Government puts an end to human rights violations;

9. Urges all the parties not to impede the movement of humanitarian personnel or the transport and distribution of aid, to cease diverting food and medical aid, and to cooperate unreservedly and unconditionally with the delivery of humanitarian aid in the areas concerned;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, the OAU, the IGAD Member States and the Government of Sudan.