MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen
4.4.2011
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, Willy Meyer, Nikolaos Chountis, Patrick Le Hyaric, Marisa Matias, Jacky Hénin, Takis Hadjigeorgiou on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
B7‑0255/2011
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Charter of the UN,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the situation in each country is different, characterised by its own peculiarities, and thus should be addressed separately,
B. whereas in recent months and weeks popular protests for employment, better living standards, social and labour rights, for democracy and respect of human rights, as well as constitutional changes have erupted in a number of countries in Northern Africa and the Middle East,
C. whereas only foreign companies and ruling circles profit from the exploitation of the rich oil resources, leaving the broad masses struggling to live a dignified life,
D. whereas the effects of the economic and financial crisis have added to the already existing political, economic and social challenges in these countries,
E. whereas events in Bahrain started with a mass popular gathering in the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, on February 14th 2011, that was confronted by riot police causing dead and injured; whereas subsequent protests were confronted in a similar way,
F. whereas protestors call for the resignation of King Hamad Ben Issa Al-Khalifa,
G. whereas the conflict has been depicted as one being between Shias and Sunni in an attempt to deviate from the true reasons of it,
H. whereas the US 5th Fleet is stationed in Bahrain, facing Iran; whereas Bahraini riot police is trained and armed by British trainers and weapons,
I. whereas on 14 March, following a decision of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the request of the Bahraini government, about 1000 Saudi Arabian troops entered Bahrain to be followed by 500 UAE police to guard key facilities, such as oil and gas installations and financial institutions; this is perceived by the people of Bahrain as occupation; whereas the King has declared a three-month long emergency situation,
J. whereas following a growing wave of protests in Yemen, that started by students in the Sanaa university, on March 18 plainclothes snipers loyal to the president Ali Abdullah Saleh, fired into an anti-government demonstration, killing 52 people, what sparked further demonstrations and protests,
K. whereas President Saleh has been a declared ally of the US and has received millions of dollars in 'counter-terrorism' assistance and help to train the army as well as provide the weapons that are not used against the people,
L. whereas the geographic location of Yemen at the mouth of the Red Sea leading to the Suez Canal and opening to the Gulf of Aden commands strategic importance linked to significant maritime routes and energy resources,
M. whereas on 23 March in the Syrian town of Daraa, the army opened fire on civilians causing around 50 casualties, demanding lifting of the state of emergency and reforms ; protests spread out to more Syrian towns with reports for further victims and arrests,
N. whereas President Bashar Al Assad has announced pay rises, dismissed the government and has subsequently named a new Prime Minister, and has pledged to study the lifting of the state of emergency, investigate the events in Daraa and elsewhere and improve the standard of living of the Syrian people,
1. Considers that each people is entitled to choose its future course without any foreign interference, political or military; denounces all foreign interference in the specific countries and the region; calls on all countries and international organisations to respect fully the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each state;
2. Rejects any foreign military intervention to solve the crisis in the specific countries; condemns the incursion of Saudi and UAE forces in Bahrain, and calls for their immediate withdrawal;
3. Expresses its solidarity with the peoples of the region, and its support to their legitimate democratic aspirations and economic and social demands;
4. Strongly condemns the use of violence against demonstrators and deplores the large number of persons killed and wounded; expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and the wounded;
5. Calls for an immediate end to the bloodshed and release of all arrested; calls for investigation into the killings, arrests and alleged tortures;
6. Stresses the need for a negotiated political solution to the problems;
7. Denounces the use of religious differences in instigating a political crisis;
8. Condemns the connivance and complicity of the European Union to dictatorships in the region;
9. Strongly criticises the intensive arms trade of EU Member States with various countries in the region;
10. Calls in this respect on the Council to verify whether there have been breaches in the EU Code of Conduct on arms export and to adopt stringent measures so that this code is fully respected by all the Member States;
11. Calls on the EU to stop using double standards in its external policies, to insist in all cases to the implementation of Article 2 of the Association Agreements, and to develop equitable relations with the aforementioned countries, on the basis of respect of their peculiarities and sovereignty;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States of the European Union, and the Governments of Syria, Bahrain and Yemen.