MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

13 January 2004

further to the Council and Commission statements
pursuant to Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure
by Colette Flesch
on behalf of the ELDR Group
on the situation in Haiti

B5-0025/2004

European parliament resolution on the situation in Haiti

The European parliament,

-  having regard to the report of the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on the human rights situation;

A.  whereas violent clashes marred the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence and several people have been killed in various anti-government protests since September 2003;

B.  whereas the tiny Caribbean island state is gripped by the hemisphere's most abject poverty, with by far the lowest life expectancy, literacy and health indicators in its region;

C.  whereas a 10-point action plan presented to government authorities and the international community is designed to give specific recommendations for confronting the gravest human rights abuses in the country;

D.  concerned about poverty, drug trafficking, illegal killings, torture, impunity, violence against women, violations of the right to freedom of conscience, and threats against human rights defenders and trade unionists;

E.  whereas the recent demonstrations underscored the deepening crisis facing President Aristide;

F.  whereas President Aristide pledged to hold elections in 2004 as Haiti marked 200 years of independence;

G.  whereas the opposition has refused to take part in new parliamentary elections unless the President resigns, but Aristide has vowed to serve out his term, which ends in 2006;

H.  whereas Jean-Bertrand Aristide has been locked in a stalemate with the opposition since 2000, when he returned to power in a landslide election which his opponents say were rigid;

I.  whereas the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is attempting to mediate in the bitter political dispute and the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has pledged to work with CARICOM to resolve the Haitian crisis;

J.  whereas the EU, like the United States, has suspended cooperation with Haiti, but, at the same time, has increased humanitarian aid;

1.  Is deeply concerned at the continuous clashes between pro- and anti-government activists in Haiti and deplores the casualties incurred during anti-government protests over the last months;

2.  Asks the authorities, with the cooperation of the political parties, to immediately bring those responsible to justice;

3.  Calls on political leaders to immediately address their supporters and demand they stop committing abuses;

4.  Calls for constructive dialogue between the Haitian government, the opposition, members of the religious community and associations representing civil society, in line with pluralist democracy;

5.  Calls for the restoration of the UN mission working with the Haitian police force, the disbandment of the so-called "special brigades" (requested by the UN Special Envoy), and the disarming of the militias;

6.  Calls for reform of Haitian society and for real democratic development in that country;

7.  Requests that the Commission intensify its humanitarian and sanitary aid to Haiti;

8.  Calls for the establishment of cooperation, in particular in the education and health sectors, as soon as the conditions, set out in the Cotonou Accord, have been fulfilled;

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the governments of the countries of CARICOM.