JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
10 March 2004
- –John Bowis and John Alexander Corrie, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
- –Margrietus J. van den Berg and Karin Junker, on behalf of the PSE Group
- –Bob van den Bos, on behalf of the ELDR Group
- –Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Didier Rod, Inger Schörling and Nelly Maes, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
- –Yasmine Boudjenah, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
- –Charles Pasqua and Luís Queiró, on behalf of the UEN Group
- –UEN (B5‑0122/2004),
- –PPE-DE (B5‑0124/2004),
- –PSE (B5‑0125/2004),
- –Verts/ALE (B5‑0130/2004),
- –GUE/NGL (B5‑0131/2004),
- –ELDR (B5‑0133/2004),
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Haiti
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Resolution 1529, unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council, authorising the sending of an interim force pending the deployment of a blue helmets mission ninety days later,
– having regard to the CARICOM Heads of Government statement of 3 March 2004 at the conclusion of an emergency session on the situation in Haiti,
– having regard to the renewal in January 2003 of the partial suspension of EU cooperation with Haiti,
– having regard to its previous resolutions,
– having regard to Rule 37(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas anti-government protests have steadily grown in strength and violence, leading up to the control by an armed rebel movement of the whole country, and resulting in hundreds of dead and wounded civilians,
B. whereas President Aristide’s second term has been mired by crises, including a coup attempt in July 2001, and whereas the political opposition called for him to step down as a condition for participation in legislative elections,
C. whereas the political situation, marked by insurrection, has led to the forced resignation of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide,
D. whereas the President of the Supreme Court, Boniface Alexandre, is acting as interim president, as provided for by Haiti’s Constitution,
E. whereas the UN Security Council decided to authorise the deployment of a multinational interim force to Haiti for three months in order to promote security and stability, to facilitate humanitarian assistance and to assist the Haitian police and Coast Guard in maintaining law and order and protecting human rights,
F. whereas there is some unease over the fall and departure from Haiti of President Jean‑Bertrand Aristide, including the reservations expressed by CARICOM regarding the conditions surrounding the forced departure of President Aristide,
G. whereas the CARICOM Action Plan, endorsed by the EU, was based on the precepts of shared government, binding both President Aristide and the legitimate opposition to specific commitments,
H. whereas President Aristide’s election in October 2000 had taken place without the participation of the opposition parties, which wished to protest against the vote count at the May 2000 parliamentary elections, and whereas the political situation had been at a deadlock since then despite various mediation attempts,
I. whereas the national police and judicial system were unable to enforce the rule of law,
J. having regard to the establishment of the Tripartite Council to prepare the transition period following President Aristide’s departure,
K. whereas a Council of seven ‘wise men’ has been set up to submit a new Prime Minister to the Haitian Interim President and give its opinion on the choice of members of the provisional government,
L. whereas all insurgents and militias must be disarmed to stop widespread looting and revenge killings,
1. Regrets the fact that it has proved impossible to achieve a peaceful and negotiated political settlement between all the country’s political forces because of the inability of all the political parties to resolve the dispute over the 2000 parliamentary elections in a peaceful and democratic manner and with due respect for the rule of law;
2. Regrets that the international forces did not intervene earlier, as called for by CARICOM, to put an end to the spiral of violence;
3. Welcomes the establishment of the transition Tripartite Council and the Council of seven ‘wise men’, representing the diversity of Haitian society, with a view to finding a peaceful settlement to the country’s crisis;
4. Calls for the creation of a broad-based interim government of national unity;
5. Calls for national reconciliation and calls on the transition authorities to consider holding a ‘national conference’ to debate the country’s future and seek a consensus on future action;
6. Calls on the transition authorities to set up an independent and representative ‘electoral commission’;
7. Demands that all parties to the conflict in Haiti cease using violent means, and reiterates that all parties must respect international law, including with respect to human rights, and that there will be individual accountability and no impunity for violators;
8. Calls on the transition authorities, with the help of the international forces, to disband all non-constitutional armed organisations, require them to hand in their weapons, put an end to corruption and step up the fight against drug trafficking with the assistance of specialised international agencies;
9. Calls for an impartial investigation of allegations of human rights abuses and for convicted human rights violators to be brought to justice; calls, in this context, for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission;
10. Suggests that a Human Rights High Commissioner’s Office be set up, responsible for the independent monitoring of respect for human rights;
11. Calls for the multinational interim force comprising French, US and Canadian military personnel to be replaced with United Nations peace-keepers on the date decided by the Security Council;
12. Welcomes the Commission emergency funding of 1.8 million euro but calls for EU and international aid to increase, in order not only to address humanitarian needs but also to provide long‑term assistance with the reconstruction of the legal system and the national police and security forces on a basis of respect for human rights and the rule of law;
13. Regrets and condemns the continuing violence, which has claimed new victims, in particular the Spanish journalist Ricardo Ortega, who was killed while carrying out his job as a press photographer;
14. Calls on the Commission to step up its humanitarian and health aid, in particular by responding to the appeals of the International Red Cross and providing victims of violence with specific assistance;
15. Calls for the resumption of full cooperation with Haiti as soon as the relevant conditions are met;
16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the ACP Council, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the Secretary‑General of the UN, the Organisation. of American States, CARICOM, and the Haitian Interim President and Tripartite Council.
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