European Parliament resolution on freedom of the press in Algeria
Date: 2005-06-09
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Algeria, European neighbourhood policy, association agreement (EU), democratisation, freedom of the press, political cooperation

25.5.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 124 E/567

Thursday 9 June 2005

5.
Is convinced of the need to promote room for dialogue so that, in a peaceful way and in the context
of democratic institutions and constitutional order, Bolivia may manage to overcome the crisis, and also
calls for moderation, so as to make way for constructive dialogue between all sectors of the population, in
order to create a climate of trust and understanding that is sufficient and necessary to lead the country
towards peaceful transition;

Calls for a European Parliament delegation to be sent to the Republic of Bolivia to analyse the current
6.
situation on the ground and to propose appropriate forms of aid to support peaceful and democratic tran-
sition, and expresses its willingness to monitor, as an observer, the electoral processes in which its presence
may be required;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the governments
7.
of the Member States, the Government and Congress of the Republic of Bolivia, and the Secretary-General
of the OAS.

P6_TA(2005)0242

Freedom of the press in Algeria

European Parliament resolution on freedom of the press in Algeria

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement of 21 April 2002 between the European

Union and Algeria,

— having regard to the UNDP reports for 2002, 2003 and 2004 on human development in the Arab

world,

— having regard to the Commission communication of 21 May 2003, entitled ‘Reinvigorating EU actions

on Human Rights and democratisation with Mediterranean partners’ (COM(2003)0294),

— having regard to the Commission communication of 11 March 2003, entitled ‘Wider Europe — Neigh-
bourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours’
(COM(2003)0104),

— having regard to the Commission communication of 12 April 2005, entitled ‘The Tenth Anniversary of
the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: A work programme to meet the challenges of the next five years’
(COM(2005)0139),

— having regard to its resolution of 28 April 2005 on the annual report on human rights in the world

2004 and the EU's policy on the matter (1),

— having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly resolution on economic and financial

issues, social affairs and education, adopted in Cairo on 15 March 2005,

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Algeria, in particular its resolution of 10 October 2002 on

the conclusion of an association agreement with Algeria (2),

— having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Euro-Mediterranean partnership seeks particularly to create an area of peace and stability

based on respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy,

B. whereas the European Union seeks to promote democracy, good governance, the rule of law and the

defence of all human rights,

(1) Texts Adopted of that date, P6_TA(2005)0150.
(2) OJ C 279 E, 20.11.2003, p. 115.

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C. recalling the undertakings given by the Algerian Government under the Barcelona Declaration adopted

at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference on 27 to 28 November 1995,

D. having regard to Article 2 of the abovementioned Association Agreement which stipulates that respect
for democratic principles and fundamental human rights is to inspire the domestic and international
policies of the parties to it and shall constitute an essential element of that Agreement,

E. whereas television, radio and print activities are State monopolies in Algeria,

F. concerned at the situation regarding press freedom following the reform of the Algerian Penal Code in
May 2001 and in particular certain of its provisions, which impose heavy fines and prison sentences
for libel,

G. whereas numerous legal proceedings for violation of press laws have been initiated against journalists
working for privately owned French language newspapers such as ‘Le Matin’, ‘Liberté’, ‘Le soir d'Algérie’
and ‘El Watan’; particularly concerned at the prison sentences received by Farid Alilat, Fouad Bough-
anem, Hakim Laâlam, Abla Chérif, Hassane Zerrouky, Youssef Rezzoug, Yasmine Ferroukhi and
Hafnaoui Ghoul,

H. recalling that Mohamed Benchicou, Editor of ‘Le Matin’, was sentenced to a minimum of two years'
imprisonment on 14 June 2004 for infringement of the law concerning exchange control and capital
movements, while his newspaper went into compulsory liquidation in June 2004, and that his applica-
tion for release on grounds of ill health was rejected by the Algerian authorities on 20 April 2005
despite the alarming deterioration in his condition; recalling also the sentencing and imprisonment
since 28 June 2004 of Ahmed Benaoum, head of the Er-raï Elam press group,

I. whereas the state of emergency decreed on 9 February 1992 and all resulting decrees and legal texts

are still in force,

J. whereas projects seeking to develop of pluralist information channels and strengthen the independent
media in Algeria are currently receiving funding pursuant to the European Initiative for Democracy and
Human Rights (EIDHR),

1. Welcomes the ratification by the Algerian Parliament of the abovementioned Association Agreement
and hopes that, as soon as it enters into force, it will be possible to reinitiate political dialogue with Algeria
through the Association Council;

Stresses the importance of Euro-Mediterranean neighbourhood policy and its action plans seeking to
2.
strengthen democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and, especially, freedom of the press, of
which particular account must be taken when such action plans are being drawn up;

3.
Considers in particular that the provisions of the Algerian penal code of May 2001 imposing prison
sentences for defamation of the President, Parliament or ‘any other public or constituent body’ are
obstructing the work of journalists in Algeria;

Urges the Algerian authorities to adopt and implement without delay the necessary legislative
4.
measures to ensure the greatest respect for fundamental rights and,
in particular, full respect for the
freedom of the press, in accordance with the international agreements which Algeria is a party; calls in this
connection for the effective decriminalisation of infringements of the press laws;

5.
Calls on the Algerian authorities to release without delay the journalists sentenced to imprisonment
for libel, to end this judicial persecution of the Algerian private media for their opinions and to halt the
legal proceedings initiated against the Algerian private media;

Considers that the lifting of the state of emergency would help to promote the rule of law and

6.
compliance with the provisions of Article 2 of the Association Agreement;

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7.
Calls on the Council and the Commission to establish clear mechanisms for the regular monitoring of
compliance with Article 2 by all parties to the Association Agreement, and the European Parliament, the
National Popular Assembly and Algerian civil society;

8.
Calls on the United Kingdom Presidency to convene the EU-Algeria Association Council so as to rein-
itiate political dialogue with Algeria and to include on the agenda of the meeting the question of the
freedom of the press;

Calls on the Commission to continue to promote programmes, by way of the EIDHR, that seek to

9.
strengthen the independent media in Algeria and the development of pluralist information channels;

Asks that the question of freedom of the press be raised at the next meeting of the Interparliamen-

10.
tary Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries;

11.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Personal Representative on
Human Rights of Mr Javier Solana, the Secretary-General/High Representative for the CFSP, the Commis-
sion and the Government and Popular National Assembly of Algeria.

P6_TA(2005)0243

Azerbaijan

The European Parliament,

European Parliament resolution on Azerbaijan

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus and, in particular, its
recommendation of 26 February 2004 to the Council on EU policy towards the South Caucasus (1),

— having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2003 on ‘Wider Europe — Neighbourhood: A New

Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours’ (2),

— having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Azerbaijan, which entered into
force on 1 July 1999 and in which respect for democracy, the principles of international law and
human rights are enshrined,

— having regard to the Commission's Country Report on Azerbaijan of 2 March 2005,

— having regard to the Conclusions of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council of 25 and

26 April 2005 and the EU Presidency Declaration of 24 May 2005 on the events in Baku,

— having regard to the joint recommendations of the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR of 1 June
2005 on the electoral law and the electoral administration in Azerbaijan and the OSCE report of 4
February 2005 on trial monitoring in Azerbaijan,

— having regard to the recommendations of the 6th meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Coop-

eration Committee, which was held in Baku on 18-19 April 2005,

— having regard to Azerbaijan's inclusion in the European neighbourhood policy and the decision to

implement Action Plans for the three countries of the South Caucasus,

(1) OJ C 98 E, 23.4.2004, p. 193.
(2) OJ C 87 E, 7.4.2004, p. 506.