The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Lebanon and the Middle East,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership,

–  having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon,

–  having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 of 2 September 2004 and 1701 of 11 August 2006,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  extremely alarmed at the escalation of violence in Lebanon and deeply concerned by the institutional situation in Lebanon following the failure of the presidential elections,

B.  whereas the political situation in Lebanon is very critical after the Hezbollah-provoked confrontations with the ruling coalition, the violence that followed the dismissal of the general in charge of airport security and the ban on Hezbollah’s communication systems,

C.  whereas the Lebanese Government, with the aim of putting an end to the fighting, has cancelled the decisions that led to the violence and put the army in charge of resolving the crisis,

D.  having regard to the efforts of the Arab League, led by the Prime Minister of Qatar, to help Lebanon emerge from the situation of political crisis and violence by inviting all the players to seek a compromise, while maintaining Lebanon’s unity, stability and sovereignty,

E.  whereas Hezbollah is not only a political opposition party, but also an armed group that controls a good part of Lebanon’s territory, including the area inhabited by its Shiite communities, and refuses to lay down its arms and recognise the role of the constitutional institutions and the army,

F.  whereas the Lebanese Parliament was not playing its constitutional role even before November 2007, when the mandate of the President of the Lebanese Republic came to an end, and whereas the country is in a state of institutional breakdown, which is having serious consequences in terms of democratic functioning,

G.  whereas compliance with the principles of democracy and human rights is an essential aspect of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon, and whereas the Association Council can take the necessary measures, in the framework of the regular political dialogue provided for in the agreement, to promote cooperation between the European Parliament and the Lebanese Parliament,

1.  Strongly condemns those responsible for the violence and appeals to all parties involved and Lebanon’s communities to resume the national dialogue and firmly reject any recourse to arms;

2.  Is convinced that the only solution to the crisis lies in national dialogue and a definition of what is in the general interest; invites all the parties involved to support the Lebanese army so that it can guarantee fully the functioning, security, law and order, sovereignty and stability of Lebanon;

3.  Takes the view that the security of Lebanon and its entire population depends upon all the armed factions, including Hezbollah, being disarmed and on arms trafficking to Lebanon being controlled;

4.  Expresses strongly its deep concern at the violent situation and grave constitutional crisis in a country which is a partner of the European Union in the framework of the Barcelona Process, which plays a crucial role in the stability of the Middle East;

5.  Notes that Lebanon is facing a situation of democratic deficit after 19 failed attempts to elect a new president since 2 November 2007, with the elections being postponed each time by the Parliament despite the agreement already reached on General Sleimane’s candidacy;

6.  Calls in consequence on all the parties, which have been assembled since the weekend in Doha, in Qatar, on the initiative of the Arab League, to work together towards an agreement which will put an end to the armed conflict and ensure that a President of the Republic is elected without delay and that the national dialogue can continue and develop under his leadership;

7.  Appeals at the same time to the Lebanese Parliament to use all constitutional means to ensure that a President of the Republic is elected as rapidly as possible; hopes that the election scheduled for 10 June 2008 will come to a successful conclusion;

8.  Recalls that the Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Lebanon provides for a political dialogue between the European Parliament and the Lebanese Parliament on the basis of the establishment of political cooperation between the two institutions;

9.  Calls on the Council and the Commission to assess the impact of the crisis in the context of the application of the Association Agreement and to work to bring the crisis to an end, taking into account the causes of the recent fighting and inviting all the parties to the national dialogue to let good sense prevail;

10.  Invites the Lebanese Parliament to plays its role as a democratic body representing all the country’s communities in order to relaunch parliamentary life and bring into play through regular discussion and decision-making mechanisms of agreement and possibilities for returning Lebanese political life to peace and normality;

11.  Encourages civil society and the social and economic partners to play their respective roles in the context of the national dialogue by voicing their aspirations and putting forwards proposals for the peace, development and future of the country;

12.  Appeals to Iran and Syria to play a constructive role, in accordance with UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701, with regard to respecting the independence, sovereignty, security and stability of Lebanon, recalling the ban on selling weapons to armed militias;

13.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Arab League, and the Lebanese authorities and Parliament.