10. Visa requirements between Russia and Georgia
B5-0056, 0058, 0064, 0071, 0076 and 0081/2001
European Parliament resolution on the visa regime imposed by the Russian Federation on Georgia
The European Parliament,
Odash having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Georgia and Russia, and in particular its
resolution of 13 December 2000(1),
Odash having regard to the declaration of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee of 9 May
2000,
Odash having regard to the statement by the United Nations Security Council of 14 November 2000,
Odash having regard to the statement by the Presidency of the European Union of 23 November 2000,
Odash having regard to the statement by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Georgia on 7 December 2000,
A. noting with deep concern the continued failure toachieve a comprehensive political settlementof the
internal conflicts in Georgia, in the South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia,
B. recognising that unresolved conflictsin the Caucasian region impede economic development and pol-
itical stability in Georgia as well as in the whole region,
C. whereas all parties to, and mediators in, the conflicts in the South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region and
Abkhazia should intensify the efforts to find a political solution to the conflicts with full respect forGeorgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,
D. stressingthe importance ofsecurity guarantees tothoserefugees andinternallydisplacedpersonswho
exercise their unconditional right to return to their homes,
E. regretting the situation whereby the territories of the South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia
are de factooutside the jurisdiction of Georgian law, and the principles of democracy, human rights
andrule oflawwhich Georgia hasadhered toasafullmemberofthe CouncilofEurope are notfullyrespected in these break-away territories,
F. expressing in this context its concern about the security situation in the South Ossetia/Tskhinvali
Region and Abkhazia and in particular the security of international aid workers and personnel of theUnited Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (Unomig),
G. welcoming the efforts of the European Commission to contribute to increasing confidence between
the parties in the conflicts, in particular through the Rehabilitation Programme in the South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region and the planned rehabilitation of the Inguri hydro power plant on the border with
Abkhazia,
H. supporting all initiatives aiming at consolidating friendly and constructive neighbourly relations and
regional cooperation in the Caucasian region,
I. whereas a further rapprochement between Georgia and the European Union could make an effective
contribution to the political and economic development of the country and to the stability of theentire region of the Caucasus,
J. recalling the OSCE Istanbul Declaration of 1999 regarding conventional forces in Europe and the
agreement reached on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Georgia,
(1) ‘Texts Adopted’, Item 11.18.9.2001 EN C 262/259 Official Journal of the European Communities
Thursday 18 January 2001
K. noting with deep concern the unilateral imposition of a visa regime on Georgia by the Russian Fed-
eration which took effect on 5 December 2000, which will make the development of friendly neigh-bourly relations more difficult, hamper economic relations and complicate the lives of Georgian citi-zens living in the territory of the Russian Federation and of those Georgian citizens living in Georgiaitself, who are dependent for their survival on the earnings of their relatives working in the RussianFederation,
1. Recalls that the impositionofvisas which respect international law is a matterfor the sovereignty of
a state, but regards the plans to exempt residents of the secessionist Georgian regions of South Ossetia/TskhinvaliandAbkhazia fromthe visa regime imposedonGeorgian citizens asachallenge tothe territor-ial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia which the Government of the Russian Federation officially sup-ports, and calls on the government of the Russian Federation to reconsider these plans as they wouldamount to de factoannexation of these indisputably Georgian territories;
2. Urges the government of the Russia Federation to suspend the implementation of the visa regime
with Georgia given the difficulties it causes to ordinary citizens;
3. Recalls that a decision on unilateral introduction of a simplified procedure for border-crossing for
residents of South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia by the Russian Federation would compromiseits role as a mediator in the conflicts;
4. Callson all parties to refrain from unnecessary retaliatory actions which might aggravate the precar-
ious situation and to display the necessary political will to achieve early substantial results in the negotia-tions, with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia;
5. Calls on the Russian Federation as a matter of urgency to respect the commitment it made at the
OSCE in Istanbul in 1999 to withdraw its troops from Georgian territory;
6. LendsitssupporttotheUN-ledpeaceprocessinAbkhaziaandtotheeffortsbytheOSCEtoincrease
dialogueanddirectcontactsbetweentheparties totheconflictintheSouthOssetia/TskhinvaliRegionandAbkhazia;
7. Calls on the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to support actively all efforts
to bring about a political settlementto the conflicts in the SouthOssetia/Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia,
andlooksforwardtothe report ofthe Swedish Presidency tothe Third Meeting ofthe European UnionOdash
Georgia ParliamentaryCooperationCommitteetobeheldinBrussels,andasksittosubmitproposalsforafurther rapprochement between Georgia and the European Union;
8. Urges the Council, in this regard, to take into account the possibility of appointing a Special Envoy
for the Caucasus in order to increase the visibility of the EUin the region and facilitate the dialoguebetween all parties to the ongoing conflicts
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the OSCE and the
Government and Parliament of Georgia and of the Russian Federation.
11. Human rights: Situation in Turkish prisons
B5-0059, 0065, 0072, 0077 and 0082/2001
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Turkish prisons
The European Parliament,
A. whereas Turkey is a signatory to the European Human Rights Convention and to international con-
ventions against torture and on political, civil, social and cultural rights,
B. whereas reports indicate that some 1000 prisoners have been involved in hunger strikes in protest,
among other things, against transfer to the new F-type prisons now under construction,C 262/260 EN18.9.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities
Thursday 18 January 2001