B4-0032, 0063, 0078, 0102 and 0109/95

Resolution on the situation in Algeria

The European Parliament,

- recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in Algeria,

A. whereas, since the cancellation of the second round of the general elections in 1992, tens of thousands of Algerians and foreigners have died in a conflict which is approaching a state of civil war,

B. profoundly shocked at the acts of terrorism committed in Algeria against all Algerians who refuse to submit to the dogmas of religious fanatics, such as intellectuals, journalists, magistrates, artists, women, as well as foreigners, members of Christian religious orders, in fact all those who do not conform with the demands of Algerian Islamic fundamentalists,

C. appalled by the murders of many foreigners living in Algeria and aware that this campaign of murder is aimed at undermining the Algerian economy as well as driving out non-Islamic cultural influences,

D. alarmed by the hijacking by terrorists of the plane at Algiers in December 1994, the murder of three passengers and the suspicion that the hijackers intended to crash the plane containing explosives in Paris,

E. aware of the complexity of the situation in Algeria where the military regime has to tackle the horrors of terrorism but where the democratic opposition is also muzzled, a situation in which the means of repression employed by the Algerian Government to combat terrorism lead to arbitrary and brutal actions by the security forces, such as torture and reprisals,

F. having regard to the results of the meeting in Rome between the main Algerian opposition parties which ended on Friday, 13 January 1995, with the unveiling of a 'platform' with proposals aimed at breaking the deadlock obtaining in Algeria since the elections were suspended in January 1992,

1. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks and presents its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, expresses its solidarity with the people of Algeria who face not only a serious socio-economic crisis, which is a legacy of the past, but also serious violations of human rights, which are tearing apart human society in the country;

2. Notes that the Algerian Government must take all the necessary measures to combat terrorism but considers that a policy of repression is not sufficient for dealing with the problem and will be counter-productive if accompanied by atrocities, which are often inflicted on innocent people;

3. Endorses any attempt to reach a democratic political solution which will allow the Algerian people to regain their dignity and also rebuild a state based on the rule of law and a civil society;

4. Welcomes, therefore, the results of the negotiations in Rome involving representatives of the main Algerian opposition movements, in particular the renunciation of violence and the call for the opening of genuine negotiations with the government;

5. Calls on the Algerian Government to engage in a dialogue with the democratic opposition forces with the aim of establishing a democratic general election process;

6. Calls on the Member States to ban the expulsion to Algeria of democrats who are under threat there and to make every effort to welcome Algerian democrats who are temporarily forced to find refuge abroad in order to escape acts of violence against them;

7. Stresses that the economic and social situation, the poverty endured by most of the population, the high unemployment rate and the violation of certain human rights - and notably the refusal of the present regime to recognize the democratic rights of the opposition - all make Algeria a fertile breeding ground for violence, religious fanaticism and terrorism;

8. Expresses its support for Algerian women in their efforts to establish democracy in Algeria and respect for the fundamental rights of human beings and for equality;

9. Calls for the dialogue between the various sides in Algeria and developments towards democratic conditions to be given emphatic support by the EU, and calls on the Council to propose a joint action for Algeria, in order to help the country overcome the conflict;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Algerian Government and the Secretary-General of the Arab League.