JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
14 January 2004
- –John Alexander Corrie, Jean-Pierre Bebear, Vitaliano Gemelli and Bernd Posselt on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
- –Margrietus J. van den Berg and Francisca Sauquillo Pérez del Arco on behalf of the PSE Group
- –Cecilia Malmström, Johan Van Hecke and Colette Flesch on behalf of the ELDR Group
- –Nelly Maes, Patricia McKenna and Didier Rod on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
- –Pedro Marset Campos on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
- –Niall Andrews, Gerard Collins, Brian Crowley, Jim Fitzsimons, Liam Hyland and Seán Ó Neachtainon behalf of the UEN Group
- –PSE (B5‑0014/2004),
- –PPE-DE (B5‑0017/2004),
- –Verts/ALE (B5‑0021/2004),
- –ELDR (B5‑0024/2004),
- –GUE/NGL (B5‑0027/2004),
- –UEN (B5‑0029/2004),
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Burundi
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 50(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Burundi, in particular that of 23 October 2003,
– having regard to the declaration issued by the EU Presidency on 19 November 2003,
A. shocked by the brutal murder of Monsignor Michael Courtney, the Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi, in a road ambush in Bururi province on 29 December 2003,
B. whereas, although no one has yet claimed responsibility for this murder, suspicions point to the FLN, the only rebel movement which has not laid down its arms,
C. whereas that movement has issued death threats against the Archbishop of Bujumbura, who was accusing them of the murder of the Apostolic Nuncio,
D. whereas that movement denies responsibility for the murder, has lifted its ultimatum calling on the Archbishop of Bujumbura to leave the country, and, for the first time, has stated its willingness to meet the President of the Republic with a view to opening negotiations,
E. whereas Monsignor Courtney had been helping the peace process in Burundi in a quiet and effective manner, after many years of dedicated service to the Holy See in many difficult and challenging postings, and had been instrumental in persuading some rebel groups to give up their armed struggle,
F. whereas the peace process had recently been gathering momentum, with the signing on 16 November 2003 of the peace agreement between the Transitional Government of Burundi and the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) movement led by Pierre Nkurunziza, which follows the Pretoria Protocol signed on 8 October 2003 by the CNDD-FDD movement, and the subsequent agreements of 2 November 2003 signed by the FDD,
G. regretting, however, that fighting is still going on in several provinces, especially in rural Bujumbura, and deploring in particular the killing of five people on 5 January 2004 in the eastern Bujumbura district of Gihosha,
H. whereas attention must be drawn to the remarks by the UN Secretary-General to the effect that Burundians must experience an improvement in their living conditions or the budding peace process may be jeopardised,
I. seriously concerned at the worsening human rights situation, which has prompted Oxfam to suspend its operations in the country, despite the desperate needs to be met,
1. Strongly condemns the brutal murder of Monsignor Courtney, who, as a diplomat, was entitled to special protection by the authorities, and calls for a full and independent investigation in order to identify and bring to justice those responsible; extends its condolences to his family and friends and to the Holy See;
2. Recognises and appreciates the quiet and effective ways in which Monsignor Courtney had been helping the peace process and alleviating the suffering of the people in Burundi;
3. Calls on all parties to move swiftly to implement the recent peace agreements and to observe a complete ceasefire during the negotiations;
4. Calls on Mr Agathon Rwasa's FNL movement to seize the opportunity presented by the forthcoming talks with President Ndayizeye to abandon the military option and join the peace process, and asks the Burundian authorities to do their utmost to foster negotiations with that movement;
5. Calls on the African Union and its Member States exert every possible pressure on the FLN with a view to bringing it to the negotiating table with the genuine aim of seeking a peaceful political settlement;
6. Calls on the UN Security Council to consider the rapid constitution and deployment of a UN peace-keeping operation, to support the peace process at this critical moment and to strengthen and complement the African Union peace-keeping mission already deployed; also calls on the Council and Commission to increase their contribution to Burundi's peace and reconstruction process;
7. Condemns the ongoing hostilities and human rights abuses, in particular as they affect women and children, and reaffirms that there cannot be any impunity for war crimes, in particular those committed against civilians;
8. Calls, to this end, on the Government of Burundi to implement the judicial reforms provided for in the Arusha Agreements, to end impunity and to proceed with the ratification of the Statute of the International Criminal Court;
9. Calls on all States participating at the donor conference for Burundi to make sure that there are sufficient funds for human rights promotion and protection;
10. Believes that initiatives by the international community which are focused on obtaining a political settlement will be sustainable only if fundamental human rights issues are addressed at every stage of the peace and democratisation process;
11. Calls on all parties to allow the civilian population unhindered access to humanitarian aid and to encourage and facilitate the work of NGOs, especially in the health sector;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the African Union Commission and Executive Council and the governments of Burundi, Tanzania, South Africa and the Holy See.