MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

4.7.2006

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 Margrete Auken and Sepp Kusstatscher
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
on Somalia

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B6‑0400/06

European Parliament resolution on Somalia

The European Parliament,

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

• A.whereas Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, has been taken over by  the "Union of the Islamic Courts" following fresh fighting against  the  "Alliance for the Restoration of Peace,
• B.whereas the fighting in Mogadishu has led to the internal displacement of some 250,000 people,
• C.whereas a joint African-Arab assessment mission is to travel to Somalia for consultations with the transitional government and other groups to restore peace and security in the country,
• D.recalling that Somalia has had no functioning government since the overthrow of the Said  Barre regime in 1991 and since then the political situation  has been marked by anarchy against a background of inter-clan fighting and banditry,
• E.whereas the Somali Republic (Somaliland) declared an  independent  state in 1998,
• F.whereas the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM), that was intended to bring an end to the political instability and to establish a working government ended in 1994 without success,
• G.whereas efforts at mediation of the Somali internal dispute have been undertaken by neighbouring countries and regional governments such as Ethiopia, Egypt, Yemen and  Kenya bringing into the conflict regional geopolitical interests,
• H.whereas a Transitional National Government (TNG) was created in 2000 with a three year mandate to create a permanent national Somali government and this government controlled only a part of Mogadishu while other areas remained under the control of various armed factions,  
• I.deeply concerned by the flow of arms in the country despite  the 1992 international arms embargo against  Somalia, imposed by UN,
• J.whereas Somalia requires the urgent attention and assistance of the international community, in particular of the EU, in order to assist the restoration of the State,

1.  Condemns the recent outbreak of fighting in Mogadishu  and calls upon all Somali parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid further bloodshed;

2.  Welcomes the Joint African-Arab assessment mission  in order to find a solution and restore peace and security in the country;

3.  Calls on all Somali factions  to end violence, fully respect human rights and individual freedom, commit themselves firmly to peace and to a genuine process of national reconciliation by establishing constructive relations  among themselves;

4.  Calls on the EU to examine ways and means on how to assist the Somalis to achieve peace and national reconciliation and to put an end to a situation which causes much distress and suffering among the civilian population;

5.  Calls on the EU, in close cooperation with UN agencies, to intensify its humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons and to implement aid and rehabilitation programmes by the intermediary of NGOs and local civil society organisations;

6.  Urges a strict application and monitoring of the arms embargo against Somalia;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, IGAD, OAU, and the Transitional National Government of Somalia.