RESOLUTION on the political in South America

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 17 January 1986 on the political aspects of relations between the European Community and Latin America (1),

(1) OJ No C 36, 17.2.1986, p. 198.

- having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Vandemeulebroucke and Mr Kuijpers on the murders committed by the army in Surinam (Doc. B2-973/87),

- having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Tridente on the human rights situation in Argentina as a result of the Punto final and Obediencia Debida laws passed on 4 June 1987 (Doc. B2-984/87),

- having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Boesmans on Colombia (Doc. B2-1785/87),

- having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Tridente and Mr Uexküll on the petition against the law whereby the crimes of the recent military dictatorship in Uruguay are to be forgotten (Doc. B2-1786/87),

- having regard to its resolution of 27 October 1988 on cooperation between the EEC and the developing countries of Asia and South America (2),

(2) OJ No C 309, 5.12.1988, p. 110.

- having regard to the report by the Political Affairs Committee (Doc. A2-310/88),

A. whereas this resolution refers only to 11 countries, most of them non-associated, of the South American continent, namely Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela,

B. acknowledging the historical, cultural, political and economic links between South America and Europe which constitute both a solid basis for relations and a commitment,

C. emphasizing that the restoration of democracy in most South American states is an encouraging sign for the development of democracy in both Latin America and throughout the world,

D. having regard to the importance of the development of specific relations with Latin America, account being taken of the situation in each region,

E. affirming once again its support for democratic governments and for democratic political and social forces in Latin America working for peace, democratically established law and order, economic progress and the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

F. noting that the economic development of the region has encountered many difficulties, despite the reform projects launched in some countries (Argentina, Brazil), and that the external debt problem is still unresolved and is adversely affecting the Latin American economy,

G. noting, however, the encouraging signs in this regard, particularly in Bolivia,

H. deploring the fact that two countries, Chile and Paraguay, are still ruled by authoritarian military governments,

1. Welcomes the restoration of democracy following direct and free elections in Suriname;

2. Congratulates the Chilean people and the democratic parties of that country for having won a resounding victory in the vote against the renewal of President Pinochet's mandate :

- stresses that this marks an important stage in the restoration of democracy in Chile, and

- achnowledges the major role played by the democratic parties in Europe and the rest of the free world and by the European Community in providing support for the holding of the plebiscite, and thus displaying democratic solidarity;

3. Notes that human rights situation in most Latin American countries has improved and that this albeit slow development is a necessary accompaniment to the strengthening or restoration of the democratic process;

4. Points in this regard to the reform of the Brazilian Constitution, the forthcoming democratic elections in Brazil and Argentina, the presidential election in Venezuela and the plebiscite on an amnesty for the military in Uruguay;

5. Voices its concern at recent events which threaten the process of stabilizing democracy and emphasizes the close connection in most South American countries between

- economic growth, political and social stability and respect for human rights on the one hand, and

- the instability of democratic institutions, the dominant role of the military, interference by other countries, terrorism and drug trafficking on the other;

notes that in this respect the situation of human rights has severely deteriorated in Colombia and Peru;

6. Notes that the economic depression which is rampant in most South American countries, the increasingly heavy external debt burden, which leads to the improverishment of large sections of the populace in both urban and rural areas and the resultant social unrest, threaten the stability of the new democracies;

7. Deplores the restrictions placed on the freedom of action of trade unions in many Latin American countries, bearing in mind the major role they can play in strengthening democracy;

8. Deplores the fact that, in many Latin American countries, trade unions are not always allowed to take the action necessary for strengthening democracy;

9. Emphasizes the important role of the Catholic Church both in social matters and as a mediator in stabilizing the democratic process and ensuring respect for human rights;

10. Believes that insufficient attention is being paid to the situation of ethnic minorities in various countries and that equal access for all sections of society to training and education is not always guaranteed, even though it is a prerequisite for equal rights in any country;

11. Points to the serious risks to natural resources as well as environment and the preservation of the earth's atmosphere resulting from the destruction of the Amazon rain-forests (in Brazil) and the ever-increasing growth of the conurbations;

12. Notes that the European Parliament has a particular role to play in South America in the consolidation and protection of the pluralist democracies which, alone, can guarantee that human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected;

13. Appeals to all governments and states in Latin America scrupulously to respect human rights by reforming or restoring an independent judiciary, together with an administration and armed forces which obey the law;

14. Condemns all forms of national and international terrorism as a permanent threat to the development of democracy based on the principles of the constitutional state and asks both that the necessary support be given to the governments of these countries under international agreements to combat terrorism, and that guerrilla movements should concentrate on achieving political solutions leading to the development of democracy based on the principles of the constitutional state;

15. Calls for the condemnation of terrorism perpetrated by death squads with government and/or army support;

16. Calls urgently for coordination of the fight against international drug trafficking, which has established major production, processing and distribution networks in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, and stresses the importance of the work carried out by the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into the Drugs Problem, as reported to the VIII EEC-Latin America Interparliamentary Conference held from 21 to 25 June 1987 in Lisbon;

17. Calls for every effort to be made not only in Latin America but in Europe, too, to combat all forms of drug trafficking and laundering of the profits derived therefrom so that the closest possible coordination in the fight against drug abuse can be achieved in the United States and Europe, which constitute the largest consumer market for drugs and where the dire effects of allegedly soft drugs are at times underestimated, and calls for programmes that can offer an alternative to the cultivation of drug-yielding plants, which are often the only agricultural resource in mountain areas, to be supported and developed in order to obtain better results in prevention and treatment - always respecting the rights of the individual - and suppression, but particularly in the social field;

18. Believes, therefore, that it is necessary - as stated in the draft Council resolution presented by Parliament on 9 October 1986 (1) - to tackle the problem of crop conversion in accordance with the principle of parity and in the framework of comprehensive help for the producer countries, in constant cooperation with the other international organizations committed to the same goal;

(1) OJ No C 283, 10.11.1986, p. 80.

19. Welcomes the UN Convention on drugs signed in Vienna on 20 December 1988 and calls on the Member States of the Community to sign and ratify this convention as soon as possible;

20. Calls on the governments of South American countries :

- to implement at long last the many agrarian reform programmes which would improve the structures of production and give access to the landless rural population, make it possible for the natural resources of their countries to be better utilized and to bring to an end the exodus to the already huge conurbations and thus help the social development of the regions,

- while acknowledging the implications of the massive external debt, to make every effort to pursue a domestic economic and financial policy which would stimulate investment and stem the flight of capital;

21. Considers essential any measures which might help politically, culturally and economically to strengthen relations between the Member States of the EEC and the democratic countries of Latin America and to develop that continent's wealth of resources;

22. Expresses the hope, therefore, that Community policy will promote :

(a) on the economic level :

- the economic integration protocols signed by Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay on 29 July 1986, laying the foundations of a sub-regional common market;

- the framework agreement concluded between the EEC and the Andean Pact, which entered into force on 2 January 1987 for a five-year period;

- the memorandum establishing cooperation between the Commission of the European Communities and the Inter-American Development Bank, designed to encourage and support private European investment in Latin America;

- the monitoring of the proposals adopted in its resolution of 27 October 1988 on cooperation between the EEC and development countries in Asia and Latin America, stipulating, however, that in order to strengthen ties between the EEC and Latin America, the financial and technical aid should be based on separate budget lines, determined henceforth not on geographical criteria but according to the demands of cooperation policy and the contractual obligations agreed by the Commission, Council and Parliament;

- the constant development and updating of the system of generalized tariff preferences and the relaxation of the mechanisms which are preventing it from being used effectively, bearing in mind that the Common Agricultural Policy has had adverse consequences for certain developing countries which export agricultural products. Also, within the appropriate international organizations, the Community institutions must do everything possible to secure better prices for their basic products, thus helping to increase income from exports from these countries;

- the inclusion in technical and financial aid programmes of environmental protection criteria and the search for suitable solutions;

- aid projects to help directly the most disadvantaged sections of the population (agrarian reform, cooperatives, education, housing, ect.);

(b) as regards the external debt:

- the urgent need to find a fundamental solution to South America's debt problem, which should be sought through a series of interacting measures which, by closely linking creditor and debtor countries, take account of the specific situation in each country, providing, in particular, cancellation of the foreign debt of the least favoured and most heavily indebted countries, as an initial step towards greater involvement by the EEC Member States in the search for ways of helping these countries; support for the economic growth of the debtor countries, a reduction in interest rates, the granting of new loans, encouragement for investement in the debtor countries, an increase in exports from these countries, controls on the flight of capital and responsible management of the public expenditure of debtor countries;

- the conclusion of the recent IMF Conference in Berlin which provide a useful contribution to the search for a solution to the drugs problem by the implementation of flexible specific programmes;

(c) on the political level:

- support for the establishment and strengthening of democratic institutions and organizations and for the defence of human rights;

- maintaining contracts and cooperation between democratic political parties in Latin America and Europe, the positive effects of which have been shown by recent peaceful political changes, including Chile, and which may act as an encouragement to other countries in the region such as Paraguay;

23. Stresses once more the importance of the Andean Pact as a driving force for economic integration and repeats its wish to strengthen relations with the parliament of that body, which is preparing for direct elections;

24. Hopes that the institutionalized contacts which have developed between the European Parliament and the Latin American Parliament will continue, by defining specific projects, to produce increasingly fruitful results;

25. Affirms its belief, based on a realistic appraisal of the Community's resources, that the Community:

- must contribute towards the social and economic changes in Latin America and towards the joint exploitation of the great opportunities for trade, in a more stable social environment;

- must contribute actively towards the establishment of wide-ranging cooperation between the Community, the USA and Latin America;

26. Instructs its delegation for relations with Latin America to bring the objectives set out in this resolution to the attention of the IXth EC/Latin America Interparliamentary Conference to be held in Costa Rica from 30 January to 5 February 1989 and expresses the hope that the conference will help strengthen cooperation between the Latin American and European Parliaments and foster democracy in Latin America;

27. Calls on the President-in-Office of the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political Cooperation to submit his official comments on this resolution pursuant to paragraph 7(2) of the decision of 28 February 1986;

28. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and Council, the Foreign Ministers meeting in European Political Cooperation, the governments of the Member States, the Council of Europe and the governments of the Latin American states concerned.