JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
3 September 2003
- –John Alexander Corrie and Bernd Posselt on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
- –Margrietus J. van den Berg on behalf of the PSE Group
- –Bob van den Bos and Anne André-Léonard on behalf of the ELDR Group
- –Nelly Maes, Didier Rod and Marie Anne Isler Béguin on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
- –Luisa Morgantini on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
- –ELDR (B5‑0375/2003),
- –Verts/ALE (B5‑0380/2003),
- –PSE (B5‑0382/2003),
- –GUE/NGL (B5‑0385/2003),
- –PPE-DE (B5‑0388/2003),
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Liberia
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Liberia,
– having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1497, adopted on 1 August 2003,
A. having regard to the peace agreement signed in Accra on 18 August 2003, under the aegis of ECOWAS, which provides for the establishment of a transitional government on 4 October 2003 and elections in October 2005,
B. whereas this agreement is so far being respected in the capital, but not yet throughout the country, and whereas massacres and attempted advances by various armed groups are still taking place,
C. horrified by the alleged massacre of hundreds, possibly thousands of civilians, perpetrated in Nimba County since the signing of the peace agreement,
D. whereas the peace agreement, which paved the way for a broad transitional government, demands that all warring factions stay in their present location and implement an immediate ceasefire,
E. whereas 14 years of violence and misrule in Liberia have resulted in immense human suffering, particularly among civilians, as well as gross human rights violations, massive displacement of populations and a breakdown of social and economic structures, with 85% of the population living below the poverty line,
F. whereas the ongoing insecurity in Liberia continues to make it difficult to ensure humanitarian access to vulnerable sections of the population,
G. whereas the conflict in Liberia has also contributed to severely destabilising the whole West Africa subregion, creating a humanitarian crisis of tragic proportions,
H. whereas the sanitary and economic situation of the Liberian population is drastic,
I. whereas the arrival of the ECOWAS peacekeeping force has enabled the peace process to be successfully conducted and whereas funding problems delayed the force's arrival,
J. whereas the peace agreement signed in Accra on 18 August under the aegis of ECOWAS constitutes a fundamental step towards restoring peace, security and stability in Liberia and, indeed, the whole West Africa subregion,
K. whereas the African Union Summit has decided to set up a 'Peace and Security Council', which will allow the African Union to intervene to put an end to conflicts,
L. whereas the speedy and complete deployment of the Multinational Force, as a vanguard force of the UN stabilisation force to be deployed no later than 1 October 2003, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1497, becomes all the more urgent to safeguard the implementation of the peace agreement, and in particular to create a secure environment that ensures respect for human rights, including the well-being and rehabilitation of children, especially child-combatants, protects the well-being of civilians and supports the mission of humanitarian workers,
M. concerned by paragraph 7 of UN Security Council Resolution 1497, which grants 'exclusive jurisdiction' over persons who commit a crime as part of the Liberia peace keeping mission to the state that sent them; whereas this provision is contrary to the International Criminal Court Treaty,
N. whereas the United Nations representative in Liberia has called for the economic sanctions against the country to be lifted,
1. Welcomes the comprehensive peace agreement signed in Accra on 18 August 2003 and calls upon all the parties to the agreement to implement it in good faith and to establish on 14 October a transitional government that will lead the country to free and fair elections in October 2005;
2. Welcomes the fact that the leaders of the various armed forces have been excluded from the transitional government to avoid endorsing the seizing of power by use of force;
3. Commends ECOWAS for its untiring efforts that have led to this successful outcome, and commends Nigeria in particular, which played a key role in the peace process, for making swiftly available troops to be deployed to protect the civilian population and humanitarian relief;
4. Notes with concern, however, that the Multinational Force established by UN Security Council Resolution 1497, expected to reach 3500 troops by 4 September, currently numbers only 1550 men from ECOMIL (the West African peacekeeping force in Liberia), with most of them being taken up in Monrovia, and is therefore unable to establish a meaningful presence outside the capital;
5. Calls therefore on all UN Member States to contribute personnel, equipment, and other resources to the Multinational Force, and in particular on other West African States to speed up the deployment of the troops already pledged, in order to establish and maintain security throughout the country and secure the delivery of humanitarian assistance;
6. Welcomes in this context the EU allocation of EUR 50 million to support the peace process under way in Liberia, and in particular to allow the ongoing peacekeeping operation conducted by ECOWAS to continue until the arrival of the UN stabilisation force scheduled no later than 1 October 2003, but urges the EU and ECHO in particular to increase their response to the grave humanitarian situation;
7. Regrets that Security Council Resolution 1497 provides 'exclusive jurisdiction' over persons who commit a crime as part of the Liberia peacekeeping mission to the state that sent them;
8. Regrets that EU members did not take a common stand regarding this major issue at UN Security Council level;
9. Recalls that there can be no amnesty or impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide;
10. Welcomes the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission;
11. Demands that all states in the region refrain from any action that might contribute to instability in Liberia or on the borders between Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire;
12. Calls for the economic sanctions against Liberia to be lifted, but calls on all countries to introduce an embargo on arms for Liberia;
13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council and Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the European Commission, the Secretaries-General of the United Nations, the African Union and ECOWAS, and the governments of Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.