MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

10.7.2007

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Roberta Alma Anastase, Bernd Posselt, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Charles Tannock, Ovidiu Victor Ganţ, Monica Maria Iacob-Ridzi, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Maria Petre, Radu Ţîrle,
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the serious and continued human rights violation in Transnistria and the need for EU's greater involvement in the settlement of the frozen conflict in this region of the Republic of Moldova

B6‑0298/2007

European Parliament resolution on the serious and continued continued human rights violation in Transnistria and the need for EU's greater involvement in the settlement of the frozen conflict in this region of the Republic of Moldova

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Moldova, and in Transnistria in particular,

–  having regard to the Action Plan for Moldova adopted by the seventh EU-Moldova Cooperation Council meeting on 22 February 2005,

-   having regard to interim resolution adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 1 March 2006 concerning the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 8 July 2004 in the case of Ilascu and others against Moldova and the Russian Federation,

–  having regard to the statements of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul of 1999 and the OSCE Ministerial Council in Oporto 2002,

–   having regard to the Geneva Convention from 1949 regarding the rights of dead people,

–  having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the 1992 war in Transnistria led to the establishment of a separatist, illegitimate and authoritarian regime in this region, the situation of the frozen conflict is perpetuating and human rights violations continue to be severe and wide-spread,

B.  whereas no final solution has yet been found to the conflict in Transnistria, despite the above-mentioned international decisions, which has lead to the continued deterioration of the human rights respect in this region,

C.  having regard to the latest example of manifest human rights violations in Transnistria, that is of the recent release of Mr Tudor Petrov-Popa and Mr Andrei Ivantoc by the so-called Transnistrian authorities in conditions incompatible with international human rights standards, whereas these persons were subject to degrading treatment and were prohibited from returning to their homes,

D.  whereas the arrest and detention under charges of terrorism of all the members of the so-called Ilascu group represented an illegal act of the self-proclaimed Transnistrian authorities and did not correspond to international standards on the principles of fair trial, rule of law, respect of the rights of prisoners and prevention of torture and inhuman treatment,

E.  whereas the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 8 July 2004 in the case of Ilascu and others against Moldova and the Russian Federation has not yet been implemented and was completely ignored by the Transnsitrian authorities,

F.  recalling that serious violations of human rights in Transnistria continue, particularly leading to the denial of the political rights and liberties of the whole population living in the area, ignoring the right to education and resulting in wide-spread human beings trafficking and organized crime,

G.  whereas the decisions of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul of 1999 and the OSCE Ministerial Council in Oporto 2002 are still not implemented,

H.  taking into consideration Moldova's European aspirations and the fact that the situation in Transnistria is taking place in the immediate neighbourhood of the EU, recognizing the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and calling on all parties to work as a political priority for the reunification of the State,

1.  Condemns the continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in Transnistria and in particular the conditions of arrest and detention of Mr Tudor Petrov-Popa and Mr Andrei Ivantoc;

2.  Welcomes their release but regrets the conditions under which it occurred, the so-called Transnistrian authorities referring to the expiration of the detention term as the only reason of the release and completely ignoring again the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 8 July 2004 in the case of Ilascu and others against Moldova and the Russian Federation;

3.  Insists on the need for the rapid and final settlement of the frozen conflict in Transnistria, aimed at creating a space of democracy and human rights respect on the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova in accordance with international principles;

4.  Calls on the Commission and the Council to envisage measures of greater and comprehensive involvement in the process of negotiation and of solving the above-mentioned conflict; notes the successful joint EU border mission with Ukraine based in Odessa and calls on the Government of Ukraine to support the efforts of the EU and the Republic of Moldova to improve the human right situation in Transnistria;

5.  Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Delegations of the European Parliament to raise the issue of the human rights protection in Transnistria during their contacts with the officials of Moldova and of the Russian Federation in the context of Moldova's proclaimed European aspirations and of the relations existing between the EU and Russia;

6.  Calls for the immediate implementation of the conclusions of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul of 1999 and the OSCE Ministerial Council in Oporto 2002 and the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 8 July 2004 in the case of Ilascu and others against Moldova and the Russian Federation;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Moldova, the Government and Parliament of Russia and the Council of Europe.