B4-1346, 1367, 1392, 1417 and 1428/96

Resolution on the situation in eastern Zaire

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the statements by the Council, in particular those of 21 and 25 October 1996 on the crisis in the African Great Lakes region, and the joint action of 22 November 1996,

- having regard to its earlier resolutions on the situation in eastern Zaire, and in particular those of 24 October 1996 on the situation of refugees in eastern Zaire ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 11(g).)) and 13 November 1996 on the situation in eastern Zaire ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 5.)),

- having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 1078 and 1080 creating a multinational force to be despatched to the Great Lakes region,

A. fearing for the fate of hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons still scattered throughout eastern Zaire, who are threatened by the ongoing fighting, malnutrition and disease and are cut off from any humanitarian relief,

B. deploring the fact that, in spite of the UN Security Council resolution of 15 November 1996 and the demands of the OAU, the multinational force is still not constituted - except for 300 Canadian soldiers based in Uganda - and astonished at the scaling down to a headquarters force in Uganda of the 10 000-strong military force envisaged initially,

C. shocked by the recent reports of atrocities and massacres of refugees committed in eastern Zaire and in particular by the discovery of several mass graves of refugees and displaced persons in the Goma region,

D. deploring the fact that the position adopted by the United States, on the one hand, and the lack of unity within the Council of the EU, on the other hand, have held up the deployment of the multinational force,

E. whereas no lasting settlement of the crisis can be found unless the International Tribunal, based in Arusha, is allowed to carry out its functions and unless authors of crimes against humanity are brought to justice,

1. Condemns the continuation of the fighting and the absence of political initiatives to promote a peaceful solution to the conflict, and launches an urgent appeal to all parties involved in the conflict to declare and respect an immediate ceasefire in order to allow the international relief agencies to reach the refugees and lead them to safety;

2. Considers it unacceptable that the despatch of an international force designed to convey humanitarian aid to the refugees has been prevented and reiterates its conviction that only through the deployment of a multinational force will it be possible to deliver humanitarian aid to eastern Zaire and facilitate the return by free consent of the remaining refugees to their country of origin and the return of displaced persons;

3. Believes that the stalemate in the situation in eastern Zaire is further proof of the lack of political will, both of member states of the UN Security Council, which seems unable to take any operational steps, and of the European Union, which lacks initiative and a comprehensive approach;

4. Urges the EU to implement without further delay the joint action adopted by Council on 22 November 1996 with a view to implementing the Security Council resolution on the deployment of a multinational force in eastern Zaire;

5. Calls on the governments of the Great Lakes region to accept the deployment of the multinational force, to cooperate fully with any further decision taken by the UN Security Council and to give any assistance required for the implementation of humanitarian aid operations;

6. Is convinced that, without a global political solution for all the countries in the region, the situation will remain explosive and the people will continue to suffer, and reiterates the need to hold a conference under the auspices of the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity to determine the conditions needed for lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region;

7. Calls for a full investigation into those responsible for the summary executions revealed by the mass graves uncovered in the Goma area;

8. Believes that the European Union should promote a major initiative for a global approach to the problems of the region with the aim of avoiding further risk of destabilisation, and that full assistance to the International Tribunal of Arusha should be an essential part;

9. Calls on the Commission to step up its financial and technical efforts, particularly by sending out European observers, to promote the restoration of the Rwandan legal system and the proper administration of justice;

10. Calls on the Dublin European Council, in view of the current stalemate, to discuss this issue as a matter of priority;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Governments of Rwanda, Zaire, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, the OAU, the UN Security Council, the US Government, the ACP-EU Joint Assembly and the International Tribunal for Rwanda.