MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

2.9.2008

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 Colm Burke, Charles Tannock, Urszula Gacek, Bernd Posselt, Eija-Riitta Korhola, Tunne Kelam, Carlos José Iturgaiz Angulo, Laima Liucija Andrikienė
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the Military coup in Mauritania

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0386/2008

B6‑0392/2008

European Parliament resolution on the Military coup in Mauritania

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the statements made following the coup by the President of the European Parliament, the Presidency of the European Union, the High Representative for CFSP, the European Commission, the United Nations Security Council, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Organisation Internationale de Francophonie (OIF),

- having regard to the second visit, since the coup, of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa, Said Djinit, to Mauritania,

- having regard to EU support for democratic transition and the "support program" of 156 million euros for the period 2008-2013, under the 10th EDF, in addition to assistance already underway, and assistance of 335 million euros awarded since 1985,

- having regarding to statements made by France and the United States on 28 August saying that they were ready to impose sanctions against members of Mauritania's new ruling junta,

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

A.  Whereas a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%A9tat took place in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritania on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008 when http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Mauritania http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidi_Mohamed_Ould_Cheikh_Abdallahi was ousted from power by a group of high ranking generals he had dismissed from office earlier that day,

B.  Recalls that President Abdallahi was elected in March 2007 following free and fair elections, involving the participation of international and EU observers, including an Election Observation Mission sent by European Parliament,

C.  Whereas more than two-thirds of Mauritania's parliament have signed a declaration of support for the coup leader Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and his fellow generals; whereas in June, the legislature passed a vote of no confidence, prompting President Abdallahi to reshuffle his Cabinet; whereas 49 members withdrew from parliament after President Abdallahi appointed 12 cabinet ministers from among those who had served in the much disliked previous regime,

D.  Whereas Mauritania's new ruling military junta have appointed Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf as prime minister, a former ambassador to placeplaceBelgium and the EU,

E.  Whereas the "constitutional decree" within which the junta defines its powers and which allows it to govern does not have any legal base,

 

F.  Whereas every person involved in the coup should lose their civic rights and be declared ineligible to sit in government,

G.  Whereas the World Bank has suspended $175 million in aid to Mauritania; whereas these suspended payments will affect some 17 national projects in Mauritania and its participation in World Bank regional projects, including rural development, health, education and infrastructure such as road building,

H.  Whereas according to Louis Michel, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Development, the situation is likely to call into question the EU policy of cooperation with Mauritania in which a program of 156 million euros for the period 2008-2013 has been signed with the government, in addition to assistance already underway; whereas the Commission may also consider suspending a major fisheries agreement with Mauritania (75.25 million a year for the right to fish in Mauritanian waters over the next four years) due to recent political unrest,

1.  Condemns the military coup perpetrated by the Generals of Mauritania, the second coup in this country in three years, which violated constitutional legality and the democratic and internationally validated election results; regrets this setback given notable advancements in the development of democracy and the rule of law over the past few years in Mauritania; calls for current political tensions in Mauritania to be resolved within the institutional framework resulting from the transition to democracy, and for constitutional order and civilian rule to be restored as soon as possible;

2.  Calls for the immediate release of President http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Sidi+Mohamed+Ould+Cheikh+Abdallahi&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1, Prime Minister http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Yahya+Ahmed+el-Waghef&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1 and other members of the government, who are still being held under house arrest in varying locations;

3.  Urges the Presidency of the Council of the EU to continue to monitor the political situation in this country in close collaboration with the African Union, and to ensure the safety of EU nationals;

4.  Notes the announcement of new presidential elections by the military junta, but regrets that no timetable or commitment to electoral neutrality has been declared; notes that four of Mauritania's opposition parties, having now established the 'National Front for the Defence of Democracy', have said that they would not take part in any vote organised by the Higher State Council (a group set up by 11 military officers to run the country in the aftermath of the coup);

5.  Calls for the consultation procedure under article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement to be activated, which - if unsuccessful - could lead to the freezing of all aid, excluding food and humanitarian assistance, and to the application of targeted sanctions against members of the military junta including travel bans within the EU and asset-freezes;

6.  Welcomes the decision of the AU and the OIF to suspend Mauritania until democracy is restored in this country; urges the AU not only to isolate the new military leadership, but to intensify diplomatic efforts to force the junta to make preparations for new elections as soon as possible;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council, to the African Union institutions, to the ECOWAS, to the OIF, and to the UN Security Council.