EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/98

(2004/C 88 E/0103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2563/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Compatibility between the violence perpetrated by the Sudanese dictatorial regime and the agreement initialled by the European Union and Sudan

Considering that:

— according to the press agency MISNA, during the clashes of the last few weeks between rebel forces and the Sudanese government, Antonov aircraft of the Sudanese airforce have hit 25 villages in the north-west of the western state of Darfur, using unspecified ‘toxic gases’ which are said to have killed 300 people and injured more than 200 others;

— the government of the President General Hassan Al Bashir has not yet responded to the accusation that he wants to hit the population of Darfur, made by the Sudanese people's liberation army (SPLM/A);

— peace talks between the Sudanese government and SPLM/A have been suspended yet again and the start of discussions, scheduled for this week, has been postponed until 3 August;

— on 11 July the government delegation refused to accept as a basis for the future talks the framework agreement put forward by IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), the regional organisation of the countries of the Horn of Africa which is directing the negotiations, after the SPLM/A delegation had publicly expressed its satisfaction with the document;

— since it was signed in July last year no action has been taken on the preliminary protocol of understanding between the two sides and the Khartoum government seems to have no intention of giving up or sharing control over the oil-producing areas in the south, the revenue produced or the new armed forces, which the dictator Al-Bashir has been employing to murder people in Sudan for many years.

Can the Commission say:

— whether, in the light of these events, it intends to denounce the agreement initialled on 10 December last year with the Sudanese government, since the latter is indiscriminately using its military arsenal and does not seem to have any intention of implementing the Machakos protocol of July last year;

— whether it considers that Al Bashir's dictatorial regime, responsible for what amounts to genocide of the non-Muslim population, can ensure peace, prosperity and security in Sudan;

— whether it intends to take unified action on behalf of the European Union in all multilateral fora, starting with the United Nations, to step up international pressure on the Sudanese government to isolate its murderous dictator?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2003)

The Commission, together with the Member States, carefully monitors both the situation regarding respect for human rights and the evolution of the hostilities in Sudan. Since March 1990, the Commission has suspended development co-operation with the country.

In line with the Council conclusions of 17 June 2002, the Commission has confirmed that the resumption of development co-operation would only take place when a peace agreement for the Sudanese civil conflict is signed.

No agreement was initialled on 10 December 2002 with the Government of Sudan. On that date an Union Troika was in Khartoum during which the normalisation of Union/Sudan relations was linked to the signature of a peace agreement. The Union considers that the continuation of the civil conflict and the violations of human rights constitute the main obstacles to social and economic development in Sudan.

The Commission considers that only a Government formed through a comprehensive and just peace process ‘can ensure peace, prosperity and security in Sudan’.

The Commission has always participated in Union initiatives on Sudan in international fora, in particular in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The Commission will continue to pursue this policy.