MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

22.5.2007

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 Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka
on behalf of the UEN Group
on human rights in Syria

B6‑0232/2007

European Parliament resolution on human rights in Syria

The European Parliament,

-   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

-   having regard to Article 11(1) of the Treaty of the European Union and Article 177 of the EC Treaty, which establishe the promotion of human rights as an objective of the common foreign and security policy,

-   having regard to the previous resolutions on Syria and the Middle East,

-   having regard to the annual report on the human rights in the world in 2006 and the EU policy in this regard (2007/2020(INI),

-   having regard to the UN Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments,

-   having regard to its previous resolutions on the human rights in the world,

-  having regard to its resolution of 14 February 2006 on the clause on human rights and democracy in the EU agreements,

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

A.   mindful of the important ties that exist between the European Union and Syria,

B.   taking into consideration the content of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, especially Article 2, which stipulates that respect for democratic principles and fundamental rights inspire the domestic and external policies of the parties and constitute and essential element of the agreement,

C.   whereas Michel Kilo, militant pro-democratic writer, was arrested on 14 May 2006, mainly for his position on the Beirut-Damascus Declaration and has been sentenced on 13 of May 2007 to a three-year prison term,

E.   whereas Mahmoud Issa, Faek El Mir and Aref Dalila, members of various human rights organisations in Syria, are now detained in solitary confinement for 6 years,

F.   whereas Syrian Security Forces arrested Kamal al Labwani, a physician and co-founder of the Democratic Liberal Gathering, on 8 November upon his return from a trip to Egypt and the United States, and have now sentenced him to 12 years in prison including hard labour on politically motivated charges,

G.  whereas Anwar Al Bunni, a founding member of the Syrian Human Rights Organisation and a lawyer specialising in human rights issues, was arrested on the streets of Damascus when he was on the verge of taking up a post as Director of a Human Rights Centre financed by the European Union in 2006 and is now sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for "spreading false information harmful to the state",

H.  whereas the Presidency of the European Union has issued a statement in which it expresses its "profound concern" over Michel Kilo and Mahmoud Issa, sentenced by a criminal court in Damascus on 13 May 2007,

1.   Welcomes the continuing dialogue between the European Union and Syria and hopes that the continuous efforts will lead to improvements not only on the economic and social situation in Syria but also politically and in the field of Human Rights;

2.   Highlights the obligation to comply with Article 2 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement;

3.  Is confident that Syria, who could play an important role of pacification in the region, will improve and support human rights and freedom of expression in the country;

4.   Expresses its great concern over recent verdicts for political prisoners in Syria which affect the opposition's every political trend;

5.   Is deeply concerned by the restrictions imposed on and the charges made against Mahmoud Issa, Fayek El Mir, Aref Dalila, Kamal al Labwani, Anwar Al Bunni and Michel Kilo for exercising their democratic rights and facing trials for their peaceful activities;

6.  Notes that the EU Presidency regrets that Michel Kilo and Mahmoud Issa "have been sentenced merely for expressing their political views" and calls on Syria to respect freedom of opinion and the right to a fair trial, the Presidency also urges the relevant Syrian bodies to reverse the judgements, drop the charges still pending in the Military Court of Damascus and release both Michel Kilo and Mahmoud Issa;

 7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Syrian Government and the Syrian Parliament.