B4-1050, 1067, 1073, 1079 and 1086/97

Resolution on the situation in Sierra Leone

The European Parliament,

- having regard to United Nations Security Council resolution 1132,

- having regard to the declarations of the Presidency of the Union of 28 May, 20 June, 10 July and 5 December 1997 on the situation in Sierra Leone,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Sierra Leone and in particular that of 12 June 1997 ((OJ C 200, 30.6.1997, p. 170.)),

- having regard to the common position of the Council of 8 December 1997,

A. whereas a military coup was carried out on 25 May 1997 by elements in the Sierra Leone army who deposed the democratically elected President Kabbah and forced him to flee the country,

B. whereas this coup, the third since 1992, halted the efforts by the civil authorities and the rebels of the United Revolutionary Front with regard to the democratic process, started in March 1996, and the organization of multi- party elections,

C. having regard to the plundering and acts of violence perpetrated against the people of Sierra Leone since this coup,

D. disturbed by the warning given on 25 November 1997 by the World Food Programme that in Sierra Leone 200 000 people are threatened with starvation and by estimates that more than 200 000 people have been displaced and are fleeing the violence which has gripped the country since the coup,

E. having regard to the sanctions adopted on 8 October 1997 by the United Nations Security Council with a view to banning the movements of members of the military junta and establishing an arms and oil embargo,

F. whereas the ECOWAS was mandated by the United Nations to monitor observance of these sanctions,

G. whereas a peace agreement was concluded on 23 October 1997 in Conakry between the military junta and the ECOWAS Committee of Five and was accepted by President Kabbah,

H. whereas the peace agreement stipulates a return to constitutional legality and the disarmament and demobilization of all combatants within six months,

1. Reiterates its condemnation of the coup perpetrated in Sierra Leone, which has interrupted the democratization process and provoked instability within the country and urges the authorities in Sierra Leone to cease the exactions against the civilian population;

2. Welcomes the peace agreement of 23 October 1997 and calls on all the parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under the agreement;

3. Calls on the EU to investigate speedily what mediating role it can play, in particular with regard to the disarmament agreements;

4. Notes with satisfaction the common position of the Council of 8 December 1997 seeking to implement at European Union level the sanctions adopted by the United Nations Security Council with regard to Sierra Leone;

5. Urges the Commission to investigate as a matter of urgency whether sufficient emergency aid is available for the population of Sierra Leone and what role the EU can play in the adequate provision of this aid;

6. Calls on the European Union to provide appropriate assistance to the neighbouring countries which have accepted a large number of refugees since the start of the fighting;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the co-presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly, the Secretaries- General of the UN and the OAU, ECOWAS and the authorities in Sierra Leone.