European Parliament resolution on Colombia
Date: 2001-10-04
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Colombia, civil war, human rights, political kidnapping, political situation, social situation

C 87 E/260

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.4.2002

Thursday 4 October 2001

16.
Calls on the Member States to take action in the UN to ensure that the UN’s mandate is extended
and that peacekeeping units and civilian police units remain in that country until East Timor’s own armed
forces and police can take over a large proportion of these tasks themselves;

Calls on the Commission and the Council, together with the second transitional government in East
17.
Timor and the other donors, to work out a master plan for the aid for the development of the country, to
ensure that aid reaches its intended destination and is used for the benefit of the population;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the elected Constituent Assembly and the future
18.
government of East Timor, the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Secretary-General, the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Nobel Peace laureates Mr Ximenes Belo and
Mr Ramos-Horta, the Timorese Resistance leader, Mr Xanana Gusmão, the Council, the Commission and
the parliaments of the Member States.

19. Human rights: Colombia

B5-0632, 0642, 0645, 0655 and 0659/2001

European Parliament resolution on Colombia

The European Parliament,

1 having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Colombia,

1 having regard to the statement on Colombia made on 17 April 2001 by the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights,

A. deeply dismayed by the murder of former Minister Consuelo Araujo Noguera, who was kidnapped by
the FARC along with several others on 24 September 2001, and by the murder of Yolanda Cerón,
human rights activist and head of the Social Pastoral Office in Tumaco, at the hands of paramilitaries
on 19 September 2001,

B.

also dismayed at the murder of Octavio Sarmiento, member of the National Congress and founder of
the ‘Unión Patriótica’ political party on 2 October 2001,

C. whereas Colombia continues to be plagued by a widespread climate of violence despite the efforts

made to end the 30-year-old conflict,

D. having regard to the scale of the violence that has occurred in the country in recent months, involving
systematic human rights violations: extortion, kidnappings, murders, drug-trafficking and the suffering
and displacement of the civilian population,

E.

F.

having regard to the conditions governing European cooperation with Colombia and in particular the
decision taken by the Council of Ministers a year ago to submit a report to the European Parliament
every six months on the peace process, the progress made with its programmes and the Colombian
Government’s compliance with international human rights recommendations,

having regard to the recent visit to Colombia in June 2001 by a European Parliament delegation,
which was able to hold talks with the legitimate authorities of the Colombian Government, including
President Pastrana, with the leaders of the ELN and the FARC, who were asked to put an immediate
stop to the practice of kidnapping, and to release the two Colombian members of parliament and the
European Union citizens being held by the guerrillas,

G. noting that 7 October 2001 will see the legal expiration of the 42 000 km2 demilitarised zone in the

south of the country which Mr Pastrana handed over to the FARC,

H. having regard to the clearly expressed will of the vast majority of Colombian society who want peace,

11.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 87 E/261

Thursday 4 October 2001

1.

Condemns all human rights violations committed in Colombia;

2.
Expresses its condolences to the families of the victims, the human rights activist and head of the
Social Pastoral Office in Tumaco, Yolanda Cerón, the former Minister Araujo Noguera and the Unión
Patriótica member of parliament Octavio Sarmiento, and to the families of all those who have fallen victim
to terrorism and violence in recent months, which represent an out-and-out attack on the peace process;

3.
Calls again on the FARC guerrillas to release the civilians they are holding, particularly the EU
citizens, a request made during the visit by the European Parliament delegation which, if complied with,
would demonstrate a genuine desire for progress towards peace and reconciliation among Colombians;

4.
Urges the guerrilla leaders and paramilitary forces to end the systematic violation of human rights
and international humanitarian law and to stop putting pressure on the civilian population, and calls on
them to conclude a humanitarian agreement to this effect;

5.
Calls on the Colombian Government to renew its efforts to protect and guarantee the security of the
civilian population in Colombia, as well as that of political, social and trade union leaders and human
rights activists, and to step up its efforts to combat immunity from punishment and to dismantle para-
military groups;

6.
Reiterates its support for the peace process and a negotiated settlement to the conflicts and calls on
the parties to declare a ceasefire, as proposed by the committee of eminent persons for peace, and points
to the deep-rooted economic and social causes of this situation;

7.
Points out that this commitment to the nascent peace process makes it necessary to continue to
search for peace, strengthen institutions, comply with the rule of law, and promote development coop-
eration, humanitarian aid and social development and thus bring about the establishment of a fairer
society, while stressing that, if resources, volunteers, experts and aid workers are to be sent, the minimum
standards to guarantee their safety must be met;

Calls on the Council, Commission and the Member States to keep a close watch on developments in
8.
Colombia and offer to provide mediation between the parties to secure a stable peace agreement; in the
sphere of cooperation calls on the EU to pay closer attention to stepping up measures to combat immun-
ity from punishment and to support the work done by human rights organisations;

Calls on the Council to submit to the European Parliament its first six-monthly progress report on

9.
the peace process and human rights in Colombia as soon as possible;

Reaffirms its commitment to combat drug-trafficking, which should not be countered solely by
10.
military action, but also requires concerted social and economic action involving the civilian population
concerned and the countries to which the drugs are sent and where they are consumed;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Colombian

11.
Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

20. Southern Caucasus

B5-0618, 0630, 0638, 0649 and 0661/2001

European Parliament resolution on development of relations between the European Union and the
southern Caucasus

The European Parliament,

1 having regard to the Agreements for Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union,
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia of July 1999, and the joint declaration by the Presidents of the
three states of June 1999 in Luxembourg, for cooperation in the region and more widely in Europe,