B4-0993, 1018, 1026, 1044 and 1064/96

Resolution on the situation in the Kurdish security zone in northern Iraq

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolutions on the situation in Iraq, particularly those concerning the situation in Iraqi Kurdistan,

A. regretting that the negotiations conducted under the auspices of the United States between the rival Kurdish factions of Massoud Barzani's Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which share power in Iraqi Kurdistan, were unsuccessful,

B. whereas recently Iraqi ground forces entered the protection zone in order to give support to one of the Kurdish factions which resulted in that faction taking over control in a large part of that zone,

C. whereas the US aimed to destroy a major part of the Iraqi air defence system while at the same time declaring that it would enforce a wider no-fly zone over part of Iraq,

D. whereas the Iraqi armed forces' incursion into the Kurdish area has given rise to a serious refugee problem in the region,

E. whereas the US action, launched unilaterally and without consultation with the European Union, has failed to halt the advance of Iraqi troops alongside the KDP activists,

F. whereas, according to several accounts, Saddam Hussein's men have apparently executed 96 dissidents or deserters; whereas a veritable man-hunt is under way in the area, where opponents of the Iraqi regime are being hounded down,

G. recalling the appalling suffering inflicted on the Kurdish people of Iraq by the Iraqi dictatorship of Saddam Hussein over many years, including the effects of the use of chemical weapons at Halabja, the destruction of Kurdish villages, the enforced flight of Kurds in the aftermath of the Gulf War, and other flagrant infringements of human rights,

H. whereas the crisis is very serious and could spread to the entire region, jeopardizing a Middle East peace process which is already undermined,

I. noting that once again the European Union proved unable to reach a common position with regard to a major international crisis,

J. concerned by the fact the Turkey is envisaging the creation of a security zone in northern Iraq,

1. Condemns the Iraqi incursion into the Kurdish area and calls on the Council to hold an immediate meeting in order to work out a common response to Saddam Hussein's repeated violations of United Nations resolutions;

2. Calls upon the Council and the Commission to take any initiative deemed appropriate in order to:

- reach a common EU position on measures taken or to be taken in order to make Iraq respect all relevant UN Security Council resolutions;

- contribute to international efforts to supply aid to the refugees following the Iraqi incursion into the Kurdish area;

- take the initiative to mediate between the rival Kurdish parties, the PUK and KDP;

3. Calls for the full withdrawal of all Iraqi forces, including intelligence units, from the protected area;

4. Regrets that the EU is unable to have a major impact on the way the international community reacts to the Iraqi Government's actions because its Member States fail to agree a common position;

5. Calls on the Council to insist on close consultations on the measures to be taken in the days ahead with a view to resolving the present crisis in northern Iraq and calls for that process initially to involve the United States and later to be widened to include all countries which have supported the various United Nations resolutions on Iraq;

6. Calls on neighbouring countries not to take unilateral action in response to the Iraqi incursion;

7. Deeply regrets that the Kurdish factions have not been able to reach agreement on assuming authority in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan and deplores both the involvement of Iranian forces in the internal struggle, at the behest of the PUK, and of Iraqi forces of Saddam Hussein, at the behest of the KDP;

8. Calls for the Iraqi Government to respect the conditions which would allow the rapid implementation of UN Resolution 986 on food for oil in order to provide relief for the Iraqi people suffering the greatest hardship and most affected by the impact of the international embargo;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the United States, Russia, and the Arab countries, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.