WRITTEN QUESTION P-1398/01

by Luís Queiró (UEN) to the Council

(7 May 2001)

Subject: Situation of Portuguese hostages in Cabinda

Seven Portuguese citizens continue to be held in Cabinda - two of them since 24 May 2000 (i.e. in captivity for exactly 11 months) and the others since 9 March 2001.

According to the information available the situation in Cabinda has sharply deteriorated, particularly on account of increased military pressure from Angola.

The author of this question takes the view (which is shared by the European Union as a whole) that the non-use of military force has been essential to the success of the diplomatic efforts undertaken in such situations.

A single example will suffice: about a year ago the EU called upon the Government of the Philippines not to take military action in its attempts to free a sizeable group of hostages who had been kidnapped in that country. The fact that they were successfully released proves that the EU was right to issue such a call.

There is no historical or political link between the situation in the Philippines and what is going on in Cabinda, but there is an obvious connection from the humanitarian point of view. In both cases the EU's duty is to do all it can to protect the lives of the hostages (who are European citizens) and to secure their early release.

At a time when there are no journalists in the area (since they were all expelled by the Angolan Government) and in view of the military operations which have been engaged in by the Angolan armed forces and which, for the above reasons, have been carried out in the absence of any monitoring by the international community, a European special envoy should be sent to Cabinda - preferably Mr Javier Solana, in his capacity as High Representative for the EU's common foreign and security policy. The purpose of such a visit would be to assess the actual political and military situation in Cabinda and to promote, on the EU's behalf, whatever efforts are needed in order to secure the release of the Portuguese hostages.

Is the Council willing to countenance such a visit, which would constitute an initiative equivalent to the one it promoted in the case of the hostages held in the Philippines and which is becoming increasingly important in view of the length of time for which the hostages have been held, the seriousness of the situation and the fact that the hostages are Europeans?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

The Council was informed by the Portuguese Foreign Minister Gama during the Council (configuration General Affairs) on 19 March 2001 about the kidnapping of eight Portuguese citizens in the Angolan province of Cabinda. Ministers expressed concern over the humanitarian situation of the Portuguese hostages. They strongly condemned their kidnapping and called on those responsible to release all hostages immediately. They recalled the EU's condemnation of such practices and stressed the importance of the strict observance of the principles of humanitarian law.

Since then the question has not been raised within the Council or its competent working groups, neither has the question of sending the High Representative Mr Solana or any other representative into the region.

Nevertheless, the High Representative has been kept informed about the démarches undertaken in the matter by the President of the Republic of Congo, Mr Denis Sassou-Nguesso and the President of Gabon, Mr El Hadj Omar Bongo.