ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
B4-0422, 0481, 0482, 0483, 0490 and 0491/95

Resolution on the illegal arrest of the Spanish vessel 'Estai'

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 18 November 1994 on the recent agreement on NAFO fisheries quotas for 1995 ((OJ C 341, 5.12.1994, p. 262.)) and its resolution of 16 February 1995 on the allocation of the TAC for black halibut for 1995 in NAFO waters ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 6.)),

A. concerned about the illegal seizure by force of the Spanish fishing vessel 'Estai' on 9 March 1995 by the Canadian authorities, when the vessel was legally fishing Greenland halibut in the international waters of the North Atlantic Fishing Organization (NAFO), which represents an act of aggression against the Community fleet and a violation of the international law of the sea and of the NAFO Convention,

B. having regard to the fact that the Council and the Commission suspended all negotiations with Canada until the boat and its crew were freed,

C. recalling that the Common Fisheries Policy has a founding mission of conservation, and having regard to the need to develop ever-more sophisticated methods of securing international cooperation in the protection of endangered fish species at global level;

1. Condemns the Canadian Government for this incident, which constitutes an illegal act in international waters;

2. Affirms its solidarity with the crew of the impounded boat and deeply regrets the unacceptable conditions under which the crew members were taken to the port of St John's;

3. Urges the Commission and the Council to maintain the positions they have been taking to defend firmly the principles of law of the sea and the rights of the Community fishing fleet operating in the NAFO zone, in the confidence that a negotiated settlement to the conflict can be worked out in full respect of the international law of the sea;

4. Calls on the Council and Commission to engage in urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent the escalation of this latest EU-Canada fisheries incident into a major confrontation;

5. Urges the Community bodies and the Member States to support with great firmness all legal actions vis à vis Canada, particularly in the diplomatic, commercial and cooperation spheres;

6. Affirms its full agreement with the Commission to ask for an extraordinary meeting of the NAFO Fishing Committee in order to solve the fishing dispute which has arisen between the two contracting parties;

7. Recognizes that any damage to the 'Estai' must be compensated by the offending party;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, and the Government and Parliament of Canada.
B4-0859, 0887, 0916, 0919 and 0935/95

Resolution on the human rights situation in Burma (Myanmar) and the release of Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi

The European Parliament,

A. recalling that Aung San Suu Kyi, principal leader of the Burmese opposition which won the 1990 election with an overwhelming majority, winner of the Nobel Peace prize and the Sakharov Prize in 1991, has been detained, without trial, under house arrest since July 1989,

B. whereas, according to the existing law imposed by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which limits detention without trial to 5 years, Aung San Suu Kyi should have been released in July 1994,

C. alarmed by the fact that the time of her detention has already been changed from three to five years by a 'retroactive modification' of the law,

D. seriously concerned that, since April 1995, all visits from, or contacts with her family have been refused, as have visits even of a humanitarian nature,

E. shocked by the latest statements made by Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, member of SLORC to the effect that the imprisonment of Mrs Suu Kyi is a condition for peace in Myanmar and that she will not be released unless she agrees to leave the country,

F. appalled by the report of the UN Special Rapporteur in February of this year condemning the military regime of Burma for its continued application of torture, slavery, expulsion and political suppression, according to a number of reports by human rights organizations, in particular Amnesty International,

G. shocked by reports giving evidence of the alleged hundreds of thousands of Burmese citizens being forced into brutal slave labour by the government, confirmed by the report of an ILO commission presented to the World Labour Conference in Geneva on 7 June 1995,

The European Parliament,

1. Firmly condemns the lengthy detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, who is undergoing punishment for political reasons and insists on her immediate and unconditional release;

2. Utterly condemns the continuing gross human rights violations by the Burmese regime;

3. Calls on the Council and the governments of the Member States to investigate possible cooperation between companies of the European Union in Burmese projects applying forced labour and examine the desirability of imposing economic sanctions;

4. Invites the Council and the Commission to exert pressure on the Burmese military government so as to obtain guarantees for the respect of human rights, and insists that no assistance be given by the European Union and its Member States to any projects in Burma unless and until Aung San Suu Kyi has been released and civil liberties fully restored;

5. Appeals to the governments of ASEAN to adopt a similar policy towards SLORC;

6. Calls on the Rangoon military junta to respect the results of the elections on 27 May 1990 and set up a civilian government led by Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the government of Myanmar/SLORC, the UN Secretary-General, the Secretariat of the ILO and the Secretariat-General of ASEAN.
B4-0743, 0748, 0770, 0785, 0791, 0819, 0831 and 0843/95

Resolution on whale hunting and the next International Whaling Commission meeting

The European Parliament,

A. considering the importance of the decisions to be discussed at the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Dublin commencing 29 May 1995,

B. whereas it has spoken out on numerous occasions against commercial whaling and in favour of the current whaling moratorium,

C. stressing that Norway and Japan are still the only two countries which continue to kill whales,

D. having regard to the Fourth North Sea Environment Ministers Conference taking place on 8-9 June 1995 in Esbjerg (Denmark) which will discuss and decide on the dumping of chemicals and out-of-use offshore platforms, which disturb the delicate ecological balance of the marine environment,

The European Parliament,

1. Restates its opposition to the commercial killing of any species of whales that is seen as an endangered species by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission;

2. Calls on the Commission to present a report on the basis of the latest scientific information on the interaction between whales and other species in the marine environment;

3. Reiterates its call for a conservation area for cetaceans in the Southern Ocean and demands that this conservation area be respected by all countries;

4. Calls on the Commission to express to the IWC the EU's support for the continuation of the moratorium on commercial whaling as long as it is based on sound scientific findings;

5. Draws the attention of the members of the IWC to divergent estimates of the whale population, and to the need for systematic controls on all data provided by Norwegian researchers; stresses the need to be very strict on keeping the balance between the estimates of whale population and the annual catch quotas through the 'revised management procedure';

6. Expresses its deep concern and opposes the scheduled dumping of offshore installations in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland, which will deliberately pollute the marine environment;

7. Calls on the Commission to take all possible steps to prevent the dumping of the 'Brent Spar' and the other offshore platforms and urges the Fourth North Sea Environment Ministers Conference to address this issue in the same way;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the members of the International Whaling Commission and the governments of the states participating in the Fourth North Sea Conference.
B4-1504, 1505, 1508, 1545, 1550 and 1564/95

Resolution on the persecution of Wei Jingsheng

The European Parliament,

A. appalled by the savage 14-year prison sentence inflicted on 13 December 1995 by the Intermediate Court in Beijing on Wei Jingsheng, the Chinese dissident,

B. recognizing that Wei Jingsheng, who was charged with attempting to overthrow the Chinese Government, is in reality being persecuted because he has demanded democratic rights for the Chinese people,

C. whereas Wei Jingsheng has already served a sentence of 15 years in prison in the laogais (labour reform camps) and the salt mines of Nanpu, following his involvement in the Wall of Democracy movement and his appeals for a more democratic regime in China,

D. shocked that since his re-arrest on 1 April 1994, Wei Jingsheng has been held incommunicado and that his family and lawyers were provided with no information about him until he was charged on 21 November 1995,

The European Parliament,

1. Condemns the persecution of Wei Jingsheng by the Chinese Government and calls for his immediate release;

2. Insists that the Commission and the Council consider how best to initiate a joint action in accordance with the Treaty on European Union to exert long-term pressure on China to respect human rights and considers that trade and investment policies must be considered as means of such pressure;

3. Calls for the release of all prisoners of conscience and the immediate closure of the laogais;

4. Instructs its Delegation for Relations with the People's Republic of China to raise the problem of human rights there with the Chinese authorities;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the parliaments of the Member States and the Government and National People's Congress of China.
B4-1502/95

Resolution on the situation in the Chechen Republic

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Helsinki Final Act and the concluding documents of Vienna and Madrid, the Paris Charter for a New Europe and the founding principles of the OSCE set out in the Budapest Declaration,

A. mindful of the fact that, on 11 December 1994, the Russian central government deployed its army against the people of the Chechen Republic with a view to restoring the constitutional status of the republic by military means, a move which, according to reliable reports, has already caused many thousands of civilian deaths as well as the devastation of the capital, Grozny,

B. noting that, whilst Chechnya is an integral part of the Russian Federation, a political, negotiated solution should be found for this conflict on the basis of both respect for the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and the Chechen people's wish for greater autonomy,

C. mindful of the fact that the scheduled presidential elections in Chechnya, planned by the central government without a prior political solution having been reached, have further accentuated the tension,

D. mindful of the fact that one of the principles of the European Union is the recognition of the right of peoples to self-determination, and that genocide is a crime against humanity,

1. Calls on the Russian central government to resume the peace negotiations immediately and, in this context, to negotiate the conditions for the election of the President;

2. Calls on the Russian central government to defuse the situation by withdrawing its troops, thereby restoring the people's confidence in a political solution to the conflict;

3. Calls on the Council of Europe to link the Russian Federation's admission as a member state to the restoration of human rights;

4. Calls on the Commission and the Council to continue and step up the programme of humanitarian aid to the refugees and the civilian population of Chechnya and to contribute actively to a programme of economic and civic reconstruction and development for Chechnya;

5. Calls on the Russian Central Government to initiate a reconstruction programme for Chechnya in cooperation with the people of the Republic with a view to permitting them to return to normal living conditions;

6. Calls on the Commission and the Council to make clear to the Russian Government that the continuation of its policy of repression can only damage relations between Russia and the European Union and its Member States, and may call into question the operation of the Partnership agreement;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the Russian Government and the Council of the Russian Federation.
B4-1366, 1381, 1397 and 1412/95

Resolution on the need to respect human and democratic rights in the Slovak Republic

The European Parliament,

A. gravely concerned by the new attempt by the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Mr Meciar, to expel the Democratic Union Members of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, although their election has been declared legal by the Supreme Court,

B. gravely concerned by the fact that three successive police officers, in charge of investigating the abduction and maltreatment of the son of President Kovac, were dismissed, resigned or were placed under investigation when they sought to examine the role of the secret police in this affair, and noting with concern the continuing efforts of certain political parties to force the head of state out of office,

C. concerned that a number of politicians and journalists trying to investigate the background to this affair have received anonymous threats, resulting even in physical harassment in several cases, and that the investigation into this harassment by the police have been delayed,

D. concerned that the opposition parties represented in the Slovak National Council are not properly represented in the leading bodies of the Parliament, as is sound democratic practice in all the Member States of the European Union and in other countries with democratic traditions,

E. whereas the Slovak Republic has signed a Europe agreement with the EU; whereas adherence to democratic principles and respect for human rights constitute a key principle of these contractual relations;

The European Parliament,

1. Demands that the Slovak Government abandon its attempts to deprive democratically elected members of the Slovak National Council of their seats;

2. Demands that the Slovak police be allowed to complete their inquiry into the abduction of the son of the President without political interference;

3. Calls on the Prime Minister, Mr Meciar, to guarantee all citizens regardless of political affiliation the right to freedom of expression in the media and in public life;

4. Points out to the Government of the Slovak Republic that, if it continues to follow policies which show insufficient respect for democracy, human and minority rights and the rule of law, it will be necessary for the European Union to reconsider its programmes of assistance and cooperation under the Europe Agreement which might have to be suspended;

5. Calls on the EU-Slovak Republic Joint Parliamentary Committee to discuss all these matters with the representatives of all Slovak political parties represented in the Slovak National Council and insists that any conclusions adopted at such meetings should reflect the deep concern expressed by the European Parliament;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the President and the Government of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak National Council and the Secretaries-General of the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
B4-1010, 1024 and 1032/95

Resolution on the kidnapping of EU citizens in Kashmir

The European Parliament,

A. shocked by the kidnapping of seven foreign tourists and their guide near Pahalgam in Kashmir on 4 July 1995,

B. noting that a hitherto unknown group, calling itself Al Faran, claimed both the kidnapping and the subsequent release of three tourists, as well as the guide, and that, while one of the remaining captives escaped his abductors, yet another tourist was subsequently kidnapped,

C. deeply concerned that two British tourists, Paul Wells and Keith Mangan, a German tourist, Dirk Hasert, and the remaining American tourist, Donald Hutchinson, are still being held captive under unknown circumstances,

D. noting that both India and Pakistan have expressed regret over the incident, while many of the main Kashmiri militant groups have condemned these kidnappings,

E. aware that, in the continuing struggle between Kashmiri militant groups and the Indian security forces since 1989, abuses of human rights have continued to occur,

F. welcoming the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross on access to detainees on 22 June 1995,

The European Parliament,

1. Condemns the kidnapping of foreign tourists by the Al Faran group;

2. Calls on the Al Faran group to release the remaining captives unconditionally and without delay;

3. Calls on the governments of India and Pakistan and the many political movements in Jammu and Kashmir to refrain from making any declaration or acting in any way which might further exacerbate the climate of violence and vengeance and considers that the present crisis in Kashmir can only be resolved through constructive negotiations, involving all parties concerned, aiming at a peaceful settlement and reconciliation on all sides and the restoration of a government based on democratic legitimacy;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of India and Pakistan.
B4-0965 and 0998/95

Resolution on the storm which devastated the island of Flores (Azores)

The European Parliament,

A. whereas the island of Flores is one of the smallest of the nine islands which make up the Azores Autonomous Region,

B. having regard to the torrential rain which fell between 6 and 9 June 1995 in the island of Flores, causing damage estimated at around PTE 1.7 billion, including the destruction of roads, dwellings, crops, livestock and pastures,

C. whereas the Regional Government lacks the operational capacity to respond to the damage caused, despite the emergency aid provided by the regional authorities, and it is necessary to provide swift reinforcement in the form of human, technical and financial resources in order to deal with the situation,

D. whereas it is essential for the local and regional authorities to be able to respond to such events,

The European Parliament,

1. Expresses its solidarity with the population of Flores, especially those who have lost their homes or are unable to travel around the island;

2. Calls on the Commission to grant, as a special dispensation, non-repayable part-funding in order to reduce the damage and the losses suffered by the inhabitants and repair the material damage;

3. Draws the attention of the Commission and the Member States' governments to the need for state services responsible for preventing and dealing with disasters and emergencies to be given technical and human operational resources;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Regional Government and the Regional Assembly of the Azores Autonomous Region and the municipal councils of Lages, Flores and Santa Cruz das Flores.
B4-1170/95

Resolution on the case of Mr Abu-Jamal in the US

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolution of 15 June 1995 on the death penalty in the United States and the Abu-Jamal case ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 16(g).)),

A. having regard to the death sentence pronounced on Mr Mumia Abu-Jamal in December 1982,

B. whereas the international protest movement against this death sentence led the Pennsylvania legal authorities to defer the execution due to take place on 17 August 1995,

C. deeply concerned at the refusal of the Philadelphia judge to review Mr Abu-Jamal's case,

D. whereas Mr Abu-Jamal was sentenced to death in 1982 following political machinations and an unfair trial,

E. whereas numerous personalities and heads of government, human rights organizations, trade unions and political parties worldwide have called for Mr Abu-Jamal's life to be saved,

1. Reiterates its call for Mr Abu-Jamal's case to be reviewed;

2. Calls on the EU authorities and the governments of the Member States to make representations to the Pennsylvania authorities with a view to preventing the execution and obtaining a review of the case;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President of the United States and the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania.
B4-1126/95

Resolution on unfair trials in Kenya

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the case of Koigi wa Wamwere, a human rights activist in Kenya, and his three co-defendants - Charles Kuria Wamwere, James Maigwa and G.G. Njuguna Ngengi - whose court trial was abruptly stopped on 11 July 1995 after their counsel was denied the right to present their final submissions orally, which violates both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, both of which Kenya has ratified,

B. whereas prior to the date, the prosecution had been allowed to present its final submissions orally for 14 days,

C. appalled that the four men - who have all been adopted as prisoners of conscience - might face the death sentence if convicted,

D. expressing concern at reports by international legal and human rights observers at the trial that the four defendants were denied a fair trial in accordance with international standards,

E. whereas the case is part of a pattern of harassment and intimidation of human rights activists and political opponents by the Kenyan authorities,

F. applauding the recent public condemnation of Kenya's human rights record by Baroness Chalker, UK Minister of Overseas Development, before a meeting with President Moi,

The European Parliament,

1. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Koigi wa Wamwere, Charles Kuria Wamwere, James Maigwa and G.G. Njuguna Ngengi;

2. Urges the Kenyan authorities to put an end to the harassment and intimidation of their political opponents;

3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Kenyan President, the governments of the Member States and the UN Secretary-General.