MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
4.7.2006
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Johan van Hecke and Marios Matsakis
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Somalia
B6‑0410/06
European Parliament resolution on Somalia
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Somalia,
- having regard to the Declaration of 27 June 2006 on Somalia made by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union,
- having regard to the peace agreement of 22 June 2006 concluded between the Islamic militia and Transitional Federal Institutions,
- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Somalia has been described by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative, François Lonseny Fall, as a failed State,
B. whereas the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu, has experienced 16 years of civil war,
C. whereas Somalia's government and the Islamic group that controls the capital have agreed to end military campaigns during peace talks in Sudan,
D. whereas the United Nations Security Council has required the adoption of a National Security Plan in response to the request by the African Union to lift the arms embargo,
E. whereas deployment of peacekeepers is a matter of controversy,
F. whereas the alleged involvement of foreign troops on the side of the interim government has angered the ICU,
G. whereas there are fears that Mogadishu might become a safe haven for Islamic radicals as the city is now run by Islamic militia and a network of 11 courts, (Union of Islamic Courts), which intends to restore a system of Sharia law,
H. whereas, the recent appointment of hardline cleric, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who is wanted by the US, to head the new legislative council, suggests a radicalisation of the ICU,
I. whereas the ICU has declared that it does not intend to establish a Taliban-style government,
J. whereas Swedish cameraman, Martin Adler, was murdered on Friday 23 June 2006 and further to the ceasefire, five people have died during battles over control of a key road junction; these incidents illustrate that the ICU does not have complete control of the city,
K. whereas more than thirteen journalists have been killed in the 10 years since the fall of President Siad Barre's government,
1. Calls on the ICU to avoid establishing a totalitarian Taliban-style government;
2. Calls on all parties to avoid further destabilisation in order to avoid spreading further conflict in the Horn of Africa;
3. Welcomes the peace agreement between President Yussef's Transitional Federal Institutions and the ICU signed in Khartoum on 22 June 2006 putting an end to the anarchic reign of various warlords;
4. Urges the parties involved to use the peace agreement to foster a dialogue that will consolidate peace and ensure that further negotiations are governed by the framework of the Transitional Federal Charter;
5. Stresses the important role played by regional actors - the Sudanese government and the League of Arab states - in the peace negotiations;
6. Calls on the European Union to provide support to the Transitional Federal Institutions, including the Transitional Parliament;
7. Calls on the European Union to provide appropriate political and material support to consolidate the peace process;
8. Calls on Somali authorities to bring to justice the killers of Swedish cameraman, Martin Adler, thereby sending a strong message with regard to safeguarding human rights;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Somali authorities, the African Union and the United Nations' Special Representative in Somalia.