EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 81/80

Thursday 6 May 2010

Kyrgyzstan

P7_TA(2010)0149

European Parliament resolution of 6 May 2010 on the situation in Kyrgyzstan

2011/C 81 E/16

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia with regard, in particular, to the one of 12 May 2005,

having regard to its resolution of 20 February 2008 on an EU Strategy for Central Asia,

having regard to the statement of the VP/HR Catherine Ashton on the situation in Kyrgyzstan of 7 and 8 April 2010,

having regard to the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council of 26 April 2010,

having regard at the EU statement at the OSCE Permanent Council on the situation in Kyrgyzstan of 22 April 2010,

having regard to the EU Strategy for a New Partnership with Central Asia adopted by the European Council of 21/22 June 2007,

having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Kyrgyzstan that entered into force in 1999,

having regard to the European Community Regional Strategy Paper for Assistance to Central Central Asia for the period 2007-2013,

having regard to Rule 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas it is in the interests of both the peoples of Central Asia and of the European Union to see progress towards stability and rising levels of democratic and human development, human security and sustainable growth throughout the region,

B. whereas Kyrgyzstan is a OSCE member and within this framework is committed to respect for fundamental freedoms, human rights and the rule of law and to the implementation of OSCE democratic standards,

C. whereas Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who first took office in July 2005 after the so-called Tulip Revolution, was re-elected last year for another term as president in an election that independent monitors said were tainted by massive fraud; whereas after his initial democratic undertakings Bakiyev’s rule turned authoritarian,

D. whereas on 7 April 2010 Kyrgyz troops intervened using bullets, tear gas and stun grenades against a crowd of protesters who gathered in front of the presidential office in Bishkek and then stormed government buildings to demonstrate over a sharp increase in prices for electricity and heating, leaving more than 80 dead and more than 500 injured,

E. whereas President Bakiyev was forced to flee the capital and his place was taken by a provisional government led by the opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva who issued a decree on power succession and an order of compliance with the Kyrgyz constitution and dissolved parliament; whereas, after trying to set the conditions for his resignation a week after the uprising, Bakiyev left the country for Kazakhstan under an agreement brokered by Russia, the US and Kazakhstan,

F. whereas Kyrgyzstan attracts special interest from the US and Russia because of its strategic location near Afghanistan and adjacent to the Ferghana Valley, which geographically, politically and economically is in the middle of Central Asia; whereas the Manas Transit Centre operated by the US military plays a key role in the Northern Distribution Network for supplies to the NATO troops in Afghanistan and Russia also has an important military base in Kyrgyzstan,

G. whereas the relationship between the EU and Central Asia is crucial, given the common challenges in terms of energy, the fight against climate change, drug trafficking control and the fight against terrorism,

H. whereas geopolitical competition in the region has considerable destructive potential, but also greatly overlaps in interests in relation to Afghanistan and the spread of radical Islamism which creates a potential to reduce this competition and achieve agreement that improved governance is necessary,

I. whereas the EU must always uphold its commitment to mainstream human rights, democracy and the rule of law in all agreements with third states and to promote democratic reforms through coherent policies enhancing its credibility as a regional player,

J. whereas the EU’s presence in Kyrgyzstan, essentially as an aid donor, is significant and puts the EU in a good position to assume a more important role in supporting the country,

K. whereas the Commission and the Council are in the process of reviewing the Central Asia Strategy, preparing a report which will be submitted to the June meeting of the European Council,

1. Expresses its deepest concern at the situation in Kyrgyzstan and offers its condolences to the families of all the victims of the tragic events;

2. Calls on all parties to stop violence, show restraint and make every effort so as to start a genuine dialogue aimed at bringing stability and provide the conditions for a peaceful return to a democratic constitutional order;

3. Stresses that, from an institutional perspective, a coherent and stable constitutional framework is essential for preventing future social unrest and ensuring a peaceful future for the Kyrgyz people, welcomes, from this perspective, the cooperation of the provisional government with the Venice Commission;

4. Takes note of the first steps taken by the provisional government to restore democracy with regard, in particular, to the plans to draft a new constitution overhauling Bakiyev’s revision that concentrated excessive power in the hands of the presidency;

5. Welcomes, in this regard, the announcement of the provisional government that it will hold the referendum on the new constitution on 27 June 2010 and new general elections on 10 October 2010 to strengthen democracy and political accountability; calls on the provisional government to abide by Kyrgyzstan’s international obligations and to ensure that elections will be free and fair;

6. Stresses the importance of active engagement with the provisional government, with a view to exploring and exploiting possibilities to promote good governance, the independence of the judiciary and other EU policy objectives laid down in the Central Asia Strategy and also in order to facilitate the engagement and activities by international financial institutions;

7. Calls for a UN-led international investigation into the events in order to identify responsibilities and shortfalls and provide the the Kyrgyz judicial authorities with assistance and urges, in this regard, the provisional government to request the assistance of the OHCHR so as to ensure that investigations into the events of 6-7 April 2010 are thorough, impartial and credible;

8. Points out that the Tulip Revolution of 2005 had created strong expectations of democratic reforms in Kyrgyz society that did not materialise; calls on the Council and the Commission to show coherence and assertiveness and to use this opportunity to find ways to assist the provisional government of Kyrgyzstan and help the authorities to pursue democratic reforms and improve peoples’ lives through national development and the empowerment of citizens in cooperation with all the stakeholders and Kyrgyz civil society;

9. Notes that Kyrgyzstan’s severe lack of resources and vulnerability makes it highly dependent on outside support; notes also that there is a severe shortage in its neighbourhood of models of democratic, well-functioning governance and of positive social development; stresses, in this regard, that international assistance will be crucially important;

10. Draws attention to the fact that developments in Kyrgyzstan both influence and are influenced by regional and international developments; is convinced that there are big overlaps between Russian, US and other interests, in particular in relation to Afghanistan and the growth of Islamic radicalism in the region, including in Kyrgyzstan; considers that this should make it possible to limit geopolitical competition and look for synergies; believes that success in this would have wider positive effects on international relations and international security;

11. Calls on the VP/HR’s Special Representative for Central Asia to follow the situation closely, provide assistance and facilitate the resumption of dialogue between all the components of Kyrgyz society;

12. Calls on the Commission and the Council to examine urgently whether conditions for the launch of an internationally coordinated major new aid programme for Kyrgyzstan exist or can be created, taking into account not least how strong the Kyrgyz provisional government’s actual commitment to democratisation and clean government appears to be; considers that if it is deemed that sufficiently favourable conditions exist, the EU should take the lead in arranging an international donors’ conference for Kyrgyzstan;

13. Calls for extensive use of the Instrument for Stability; underlines the need to assist Kyrgyzstan to overcome its social and economic problems; asks the Commission to prepare proposals on the re-allocation of funds under the Development and Cooperation Instrument to help make sure that the short, as well as the medium-term, EU response to the new situation in Kyrgyzstan can be of an adequate size; underlines that special priority should be given to the solution of problems in the fields of education, health and water supply;

14. Stresses that aid from the European Union must accord with the efforts being made to fight corruption and expand education opportunities and with the better living conditions policy, thereby creating favourable conditions that act as a bastion against the development of extremist views;

15. Calls on the Commission, taking into account the current situation, to check if it is necessary to send urgent humanitarian aid;

16. Looks forward to the review of the progress made in implementing the EU strategy for the region and calls for efforts in order to make it more credible, concrete and coherent;