MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

13.1.2009

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 Ewa Tomaszewska, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Marcin Libicki, Adam Bielan, Ryszard Czarnecki, Konrad Szymański, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski
on behalf of the UEN Group
on Guinea

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0037/2009

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

B6‑0045/2009

European Parliament resolution on Guinea

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on placeplaceGuinea,

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

A.  whereas, following the death of President Lansana Conte, the military junta lead by Capitaine Mousssa Camara took power in the country,

B.  whereas Lansana Conté also came to power in a coup in 1984, after the death of President Ahmed Sékou Touré,

C.  whereas the national assembly’s mandate expired last year and parliamentary elections have been repeatedly postponed in the past two years,

D.  whereas, under the Guinean Constitution, the National Assembly president would assume power prior to elections, to be held within in 60 days,

E.  whereas the military coup has been condemned by the AU, which has suspended Guinea until the return of constitutional order in the country and whereas the United States have suspended all aid to Guinea, except humanitarian assistance,

F.  whereas many Guineans, political parties, civilians and trade unions were welcoming the takeover which might, according to them, present an opportunity for democracy in placeplaceGuinea after 24 years of misrule, corrupt and autocratic governance by President Conte,

G.  whereas placeplaceGuinea remains a poor country despite its considerable natural resources and most families have no access to safe water and adequate sanitation,

H.  whereas in recent months demonstrations were organized in several of placeplaceGuinea’s towns in protest at the rising cost of living and shortages of basic foodstuffs,

I.  whereas the human rights record of the late president Alsana Conte is very alarming, including the use of excessive force by the military and the police against civilians, arbitrary detention and detention without trial and attacks on freedom of expression,

J.  whereas the power struggle may prove extremely dangerous given the country's ethnic division,

K.  whereas the future of placeplaceGuinea is also of great concern in the region;

1.  Condemns the attempt by military officers in placeplaceGuinea to seize power following the death of President Lansana Conte without respecting the established constitutional order;

2.  Calls for a return to civilian rule, restoration of constitutional order and the holding of free, fair and transparent elections as soon as possible;

3.  Calls on the European Commission to suspend all assistance to placeplaceGuinea except for the humanitarian and food and nutrition programmes;

4.  Calls for the opening of the political dialogue between the EU and military junta which seized power after the death of President Lasana Conte, pursuant to Article 96 of the placeplaceCotonou Agreement;

5.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the government of placeplaceGuinea, the African Union and ECOWAS.