98/252/CFSP: Common Position of 30 March 1998 defined by the Council on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union on Rwanda
Date: 1998-03-30
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Rwanda, crime against humanity, democracy, human rights, ruling, settlement of disputes

7.4.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

L  108/1

(Acts  adopted  under  Title  V  of  the  Treaty  on  European  Union)

COMMON  POSITION

of  30  March  1998

defined  by  the  Council  on  the  basis  of  Article  J.2  of  the  Treaty  on  European  Union  on
Rwanda

(98/252/CFSP)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

—  promotion  of  national  reconciliation,  reconstruction

and  development  and  transition  to  democracy,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  European  Union,  and  in
particular  Article  J.2  thereof,

—  protection  and  promotion  of  human  rights  and

fundamental  freedoms.

Whereas  by  Common  Position  94/697/CFSP  of  24
October  1994  adopted  on  the  basis  of  Article  J.2  of  the
Treaty  on  European  Union,  the  Council  defined  the
objectives  and  priorities  of  the  European  Union  vis-à-vis
Rwanda (1);

Whereas by Joint Action 96/250/CFSP of 25 March 1996
adopted  by  the  Council  on  the  basis  of  Article  J.3  of  the
Treaty  on  European  Union,  a  Special  Envoy  for  the
African  Great  Lakes  Region  was  nominated (2);

Whereas  in  the  light  of  developments  in  Rwanda  since
should  be
1994,  Common  Position  94/697/CFSP 
updated,

HAS  DEFINED  THIS  COMMON  POSITION:

Article  1

The objectives and priorities of the European Union in its
relations  with  Rwanda  are  to  encourage,  stimulate  and
support  the  process,  begun  by  the  Government  of
Rwanda,  of:

—  recovery  from  genocide,

(1)  OJ  L  283,  29.10.1994,  p.  1.
(2)  OJ  L  87,  4.4.1996,  p.  1.

Article  2

The  European  Union  affirms  that  progress  in  these  areas
is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  Government  of
Rwanda. 
the
to  support 
Government  of  Rwanda,  the  European  Union,  including
through  the  offices  of  its  Special  Envoy  to  the  Great
Lakes  Region,  shall:

the  efforts  of 

In  order 

—  seek  a  way  to  help  bring  an  end  to  the  continuing
destabilising  conflict,  including  through  supporting
the work of the International Commission of Enquiry
(Rwanda), and to all human rights violations resulting
from  this  conflict,

—  encourage  and  support  efforts  by  the  Government  of
Rwanda  to  protect  and  promote  the  human  rights  of
all  Rwandans,  including  through  a  close  partnership
with  the  UN  Human  Rights  Field  Operation  in
Rwanda,

—  encourage  and  support  efforts  by  the  Government  of
Rwanda  to  bring  about  reconciliation  among  all
through  dialogue  with  all
Rwandans, 
groups  which  reject  the  use  of  violence,  notably  on
power-sharing  and  minority  protection,  leading  to
strengthened  democratic  institutions  and  processes,

including 

—  encourage  and  support  efforts  by  the  Government  of
Rwanda  to  improve  the  Rwandan  judicial  system,
including  bringing  to  account  those  responsible  for
crimes  against  humanity,  including  genocide,

L  108/2

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

7.4.98

—  encourage  the  Government  of  Rwanda  to  show
utmost  restraint  with  regard  to  the  imposition  and
execution of the death penalty with a view to its total
abolition and to comply fully with it in its obligations
under  the  International  Covenant  on  Civil  and
Political  Rights  and  to  observe  other  international
safeguards  concerning  the  death  penalty,

Article  3

The  Council  notes  that  the  Commission  intends  to  direct
its  action  towards  achieving  the  objectives  and  the
priorities of this common position, where appropriate, by
pertinent  Community  measures.

—  continue its support for the work of the International
Tribunal  in  Arusha,  including  renewing  its  efforts  to
ensure  that  all  States  surrender  to  the  Tribunal  all
those 
for  genocide  and  other  serious
violations  of  international  humanitarian  law,

indicted 

—  encourage  and 

support 

the
Government of Rwanda, of non-custodial measures to
deal  with  certain  categories  of  prisoners  accused  of
lesser  involvement  in  crimes  against  humanity,

the  adoption,  by 

—  encourage  and  support  efforts  by  the  Government  of
Rwanda  to  facilitate  the  reintegration  into  Rwandan
society  of  genocide  survivors,  demobilised  soldiers
and  all  other  displaced  people,  including  through
close 
international
organisations,

cooperation  with 

relevant 

—  encourage an improvement in the living conditions of
all  Rwandans,  taking  into  account  the  detrimental
effects  of  mass  poverty  and  underdevelopment  on
political stability,

—  encourage  the  Government  of  Rwanda  to  take  the
appropriate  steps  to  comply  with  the  United  Nations
General  Assembly  Resolution  on  Safety  and  Security
of  Humanitarian  Personnel  (52/167).

Article  4

In  implementing  this  common  position,  the  European
Union  will  cooperate  closely  with  the  UN,  Organisation
of  African  Unity  and  other  interested  organisations.

Article  5

The  implementation  of  this  common  position  will  be
monitored  regularly.  The  common  position  will  be
reviewed  within  12  months.

Article  6

This  common  position  shall  take  effect  on  the  day  of  its
adoption.

Article  7

This  common  positive  shall  be  published  in  the  Official
Journal.

Done  at  Brussels,  30  March  1998.

For  the  Council

The  President

M.  BECKETT