MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
4.4.2006
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Charles Tannock, Jan Albert Maat and Bernd Posselt
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the situation of the Assyrian community and in prisons in Iraq
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0252/2006
B6‑0263/2006
European Parliament resolution on the situation of the Assyrian community and in prisons in Iraq
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its resolution of 24th February 2005 on the EU's priorities and recommendations for the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva,
- having regard to its resolution of 28th April 2005 on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2004 and the EU's policy on the matter,
- having regard to its resolution of 6 July 2005 on the European Union and Iraq – A framework for engagement,
- having regard to the decision of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 21 February 2005 to launch an Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX),
- having regard to the conclusions on Iraq of the External Relations Council of 7th November 2005,
- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
on the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community
A. whereas on 29 January 2006 four churches and the offices of the Vatican’s representative in Baghdad as well as two churches in Kirkuk were attacked and where during these attacks three people (including a fourteen year old child) were killed and several others were injured,
B. whereas the further outbreak of violence against the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community poses a real threat to its existence in Iraq,
C. whereas the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community represent the most ancient people of Iraq and they are very vulnerable to these constant and repeated acts of aggression, including threats of being killed,
D. whereas tens of thousands of Iraq’s nearly one million members of the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community have fled into exile over the past two years,
on the situation in prisons in Iraq
C. whereas, according to the Human Rights Office of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the conditions and the legality of detention in Iraq remain a matter of particular concern,
D. whereas the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights has reported about improvements in detention practices and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has given regular public assurances that all detentions will be handled in accordance with the law,
E. whereas inspections are being carried out by representatives of Iraqi Ministries in places of detention under the control of the Ministries of Interior and Defence or run by the Special Forces throughout the country,
F. whereas the EU's Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX) is providing the necessary training for over 700 Iraqi judicial, police and prison personnel,
on the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community
1. Strongly condemns all acts of violence against the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community in Iraq; urges the Iraqi authorities and the Multi-National Forces (MNF-I) to find the perpetrators of these serious crimes as soon as possible;
2. Urges the Iraqi Transitional Government to protect the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community from discrimination under international treaties and agreements that have been ratified by Iraq;
3. Urges the Iraqi Transitional Government and the MNF-I to improve the security situation of the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community and facilitate the return and resettlement of Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac refugees;
4. Calls on the Commission and the Council to take all necessary measures in order to assist and protect the Chaldean-Assyrian-Syriac community;
on the prisons in Iraq
5. Expresses its concerns about the conditions of detention in prisons in Iraq; calls on the Iraqi authorities and the MNF-I to ensure that conditions of detention conform to international standards for the treatment of prisoners;
6. Welcomes, at the same time, the full investigation carried out by the US military authorities into allegations of abuse of prisoners;
7. Welcomes the inspection of places of detention throughout the country carried out by the Iraqi authorities; welcomes the fact that more inspections are underway; notes that UNAMI encourages this process;
8. Supports the EU's Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX); notes that the Iraqi Transitional Government has requested to extend the mission beyond the end of its current mandate and to expand the scope of the training provided;
9. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to make further contributions to the strengthening of human rights and the rule of law in Iraq;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Iraqi Transitional Government, the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the UN Secretary General.