B4-0396, 0404, 0409, 0415 and 0434/97

Resolution on the situation in Sudan

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan,

A. alarmed at the worsening military situation in Sudan, where fighting is spreading throughout the country, giving rise to ever-increasing numbers of refugees, as well as bringing about the collapse of the country's economic and social systems,

B. whereas the Sudanese regime is having to face serious counter-offensives on several fronts in both the north and the south of the country,

C. appalled by the annual report of Dr Gaspar Biro, the special rapporteur on Sudan of the UN Commission on Human Rights, that includes evidence of extrajudicial killings, summary executions, forced disappearances, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, lack of due process of law, various arbitrary restrictions on the freedom of speech, association and movement, violations of the rights of women and of the child, slave trade and slavery practices,

D. whereas the Sudanese regime has placed itself outside international law by supporting and financing international terrorist activities, and sheltering training camps for terrorists responsible for attacks in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt and the Middle East,

E. outraged by the defiance by the Sudanese authorities of the repeated warnings issued by the international community and in particular UN Security Council Resolution 1070 of 16 August 1996,

F. disturbed at the proliferation of contacts between the regimes of Khartoum and Iran, which is developing terrorist and political destabilization activity based in Sudan,

G. deeply concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation throughout the country, which is likely to result in a full-scale humanitarian disaster in the next few months, partly because of the Sudanese regime's refusal to authorize international organizations to distribute humanitarian aid,

H. deeply regretting that the ¨Lifeline Sudan' humanitarian operation has been blocked by the Khartoum authorities, which signals their desire to hamper humanitarian action in their country,

1. Insists that all warring factions in the Sudanese conflict declare and observe an immediate ceasefire and proceed to the negotiating table in accordance with the peace plan of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), which aims to resolve the crisis in southern Sudan on the basis of the principles of self-determination, the separation of religion and the State and the democratization of Sudanese society;

2. Voices its deep concern at the proliferation of war zones in Sudan, which is threatening to engulf in war the whole of the Horn of Africa;

3. Reiterates its condemnation of all human rights violations inflicted on the defenceless civilian population of Sudan, particularly women and children, by both the Sudanese regime and the warring factions;

4. Expresses its support for the Sudanese democratic forces which are fighting for the democratization of their country, and calls on the Sudanese Government to release all political prisoners;

5. Condemns the political, financial and logistical support provided by the Sudanese authorities for the camps training terrorists, who are infiltrating countries in the region such as Ethiopia and Eritrea in order to destabilize their governments and local institutions; calls for a UN mission to visit the area, to verify the activities in such camps in perfect freedom;

6. Calls on the Sudanese Government to act on UN Security Council Resolutions 1058 and 1070, by ratifying and implementing the UN Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment, safeguarding human rights, respecting the rights of religious minorities, releasing unconditionally all political prisoners and extraditing to Ethiopia the three persons suspected of involvement in the assassination attempt on President Mubarak of Egypt;

7. Demands that the Sudanese Government authorize the supply of humanitarian aid and access by the humanitarian organizations to all the country's regions, in perfect safety; requests the United Nations, in particular, to enjoin the Sudanese Government to authorize the 'Lifeline Sudan¨ operation;

8. Takes the view that the European Union can contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Sudanese conflict by launching a diplomatic initiative, in collaboration with the United Nations and the OAU, based largely on carrying out a round of mediation;

9. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to respond to the urgent call by the UN for an estimated $120 m in emergency humanitarian aid by releasing corresponding European funds;

10. Calls nevertheless on the international community to maintain its sanctions against the Sudanese Government and in particular on the European Union to continue the suspension of its development aid apart from verified humanitarian aid, so long as the Sudanese Government fails to bring about an appreciable improvement in human rights in the country and begin a political process for the democratization of Sudan in which the National Democratic Alliance also takes part;

11. Calls on the International Monetary Fund to make the granting of financial mechanisms granted hitherto to the Sudanese Government subject to compliance with the OAU and Security Council's demands;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Secretary-General, the OAU, the IMF and the Sudanese Government.