MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Kyrgyzstan
5.7.2010
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Elmar Brok, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Paolo Bartolozzi, Cristian Dan Preda, Mario Mauro on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0419/2010
B7‑0420/2010
European Parliament resolution on Kyrgyzstan
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Kyrgyzstan in particular, to the one of 12 May 2005, and its resolution on the situation in Kyrgyzstan of 6 May 2010,
– having regard to its resolution of 20 February 2008 on an EU Strategy for Central Asia,
– having regard to the EU Strategy for a New Partnership with Central Asia adopted by the European Council of 21/22 June 2007,
– having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Kyrgyzstan that entered into force in 1999,
– having regard to the EU Programme for the Prevention of Violent Conflict adopted by the European Council in Gothenburg in 2001,
– having regard to the statements of the VP/HR Catherine Ashton on the new clashes in Kyrgyzstan of 11 June 2010 and on the constitutional referendum of 28 June 2010,
– having regard to the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council of 14 June 2010,
– having regard to the joint statement on the situation in Kyrgyzstan by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Special Envoy, the UN Special Representative and the EU Special Representative in Kyrgyzstan of 16 June 2010,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the EU has a clear interest in a peaceful, democratic and economically prosperous Kyrgyzstan; whereas the commitment of Kyrgyzstan to international law, the rule of law, human rights and democratic values, as well as to a market economy, will promote security and stability,
B. whereas the EU has committed itself, in particular through its Central Asia Strategy, to be a partner of the countries in the region, whereas much more international engagement is now urgently needed and the EU's response will have an impact on its credibility as a partner,
C. whereas according to official statistics, around 300 people died in the clashes but fears have been expressed, including by the head of the interim government Rosa Otunbayeva, that the real figure may be 2000; whereas thousands of people were injured and many people are still missing,
D. whereas the European Commission has allocated 5 million euros to provide emergency medical support, humanitarian aid, non food items, protection and psychological assistance for persons affected by the crisis,
E. whereas the UN has launched a flash appeal for USD 71 million needed for emergency aid,
F. whereas a referendum conducted under peaceful circumstances on 27 June and with a high participation rate resulted in approval by more than 90% of the voters of a new constitution that balances presidential and parliamentary powers, confirmation of Rosa Otunbayeva as interim president until 31 December 2011 and dismissal of the constitutional court; whereas parliamentary elections are planned to be held on 10 October 2010,
G. whereas the EU must uphold its commitment to the respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law in its relations with third states and to promote democratic reforms,
1. Condemns the recent violence in southern Kyrgyzstan, of which the ethnic Uzbek population was the main victim; deplores the loss of human lives and expresses the hope that a peaceful solution could be found to the conflict in Kyrgyzstan, based on democratic principles, the rule of law and respect for human rights;
2. Calls on the interim authorities to make every effort so as to bring back the situation to normal life and to put in place all the necessary conditions so that refugees and internally displaced people can return voluntarily in safety and dignity to their homes; urges the local authorities to adopt effective confidence-building measures and to start a genuine dialogue with all the ethnic communities living in southern Kyrgyzstan with the aim of developing a credible reconciliation process;
3. Stresses that the values to which the European Union is committed obliges the EU to respond to this suffering in a comprehensive way, including by using more than the mere €5 million so far mobilised, taking into consideration the UN's flash appeal for USD 71 million;
4. Underlines that the humanitarian response, intended to address immediate needs, must be accompanied by efforts to stabilise the situation and reduce the considerable risk of renewed violence, which is a threat also to peace and security in other parts of the Ferghana Valley, which is part of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan;
5. Reiterates its call for a focus on human security in the EU's Central Asia policy; notes that in southern Kyrgyzstan, this implies inter alia helping to guarantee the physical security of all ethnic groups, support reconstruction of destroyed homes and replacement of lost assets, counteract discrimination by authorities and in public life, provide access to credible legal procedures in a context of a general strengthening of the rule of law and improve possibilities to find work and to earn a living in an orderly way;
6. Calls for increased focusing of EU aid on local development projects improving people's lives; stresses that while there is often a risk of EU aid getting lost because of the widespread corruption, lack of administrative capacity and other problems in the region, this risk tends to be much smaller for local development projects and that the impact of such projects is generally more rapid and direct; notes that this also make local development projects valuable in stabilisation attempts;
7. Welcomes the peaceful conduct of the constitutional referendum in Kyrgyzstan on 27 June; stresses that the return to constitutional order and the rule of law is crucial in view of long-term stabilisation of the situation in the country; underlines that the next legislative elections (provisionally scheduled for October 2010) should give the constitutional basis for a government enjoying both strong legitimacy and widespread popular support; calls therefore on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to take immediate and resolute measures to remedy significant shortcomings identified by OSCE/ODIHR before the forthcoming parliamentary elections; is looking forward to establishing strong interparliamentary links with the future Parliament of Kyrgyzstan;
8. Stresses the common interest of Kyrgyzstan, its neighbours, Russia, China, the EU, the US and the rest of the international community in preventing destabilisation and the spread among frustrated and fearful populations of a perception that extreme ideologies offer the only prospect of more order and a better life;
9. Expresses its concern about the difficulties of the democratisation process in Kyrgyzstan which seem to stem from the weak nature of Kyrgyzstan's interim government and the strength of criminal networks in the country, including of drug-smugglers in southern Kyrgyzstan; believes that creation of a political system which permits representation of different interests and arbitration between them is nevertheless necessary for reducing tensions and avoiding new eruptions of violence and that the EU and EU Member States must actively support democratisation and strive to reduce the gaps between the attitudes of international actors, so as to improve the prospects for the reform process in Kyrgyzstan;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the interim government of Kyrgyzstan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the OSCE and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.