MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

10.3.2009

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 Johan Van Hecke, Thierry Cornillet, Marios Matsakis
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Guinea-Bissau

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0115/2009

B6‑0119/2009

European Parliament resolution on Guinea-Bissau

The European Parliament,

• –having regard to the Cotonou Agreement between the European Union and the ACP countries, and the commitment by parties to the Agreement to peace, security and stability, respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law
• –having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
  • A.whereas on 2 March 2009 President Joao Bernardo Vieira was shot by renegade soldiers, several hours after a bomb attack which killed the army's chief of staff, General Tagme Na Waie; whereas the killings have removed two very powerful figures and rivals who escaped several assassination attempts in the past four months,
  • B.whereas the attacks have not been considered a coup and the African Union's Peace and Security Council has not suspended Guinea-Bissau as it did with neighbouring Guinea and Mauritania after coups last year,
  • C.whereas recently elected Speaker of the National Assembly Raimundo Pereira was sworn in as president for a limited period pending elections as stipulated by the constitution; whereas Raimundo Pereira appealed to the international community to help to stabilise the country,
  • D.whereas the military, which traditionally exercises power beyond its constitutional mandate in placeplaceGuinea-Bissau, has promised to respect democratic principles and the country's democratic systems and constitution,
  • E.whereas, Guinea-Bissau which was once hailed as a potential model for African development, is now one of the poorest countries in the world, with crippling foreign debt and an economy heavily reliant on foreign aid,
  • F.whereas the semi-presidential multi-party system has not brought about the expected political stability; whereas civil unrest, military coups and dissolutions of the National Assembly have led to recurrent political crises since the independence in 1974, perpetuating the instability in the political and administrative structures of the country, whereas the country is considered to be a destabilising force in West Africa,
  • G.whereas the November 2008 legislative elections were an important test for Guinea-Bissau, whose transition to democratic rule badly needed impetus; whereas the elections were praised by both citizens and international observers; whereas during the election period, the military, remained outside the last electoral processes and committed to guarantee a peaceful environment,
  • H.whereas Guinea-Bissau is a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed for Europe and recently witnessed a surge of criminal networks involved in drug trafficking; whereas military officers and politicians are allegedly involved in the trade; but whereas the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has declared it unlikely that the killings are related to the drug trade,
  • I.whereas continued donor support is needed to carry out the administrative and political measures needed to strengthen the state, stabilise the economy and fight drug trafficking and for speeding up the needed security sector reform,
• 1.Condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination of President Vieira and of General Tagme Na Waie and calls for an immediate investigation into their deaths;
• 2.Stresses that there is a danger that placeplaceGuinea-Bissau will remain unstable and unable to cope with rampant corruption or change its status as a key drugs transiting country as long as its institutions remain structurally feeble;
• 3.Hopes the presidential elections will be held within 60 days, as set out in the constitution, and calls upon the EU Member States and the international community to make sure placeplaceGuinea-Bissau receives the financial and technical support it needs to conduct credible elections;
• 4.Calls on the recently elected parliament to supervise the respect for the rule of law and undertake public administration reform, anti-corruption measures, seek for macroeconomic stabilisation and consultation with civil society about national reconciliation;
• 5.Calls upon the donors to release money needed for security sector reform as soon as possible and set up an effective mechanism to coordinate their efforts in that area;
• 6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the African Union and the government of placeplaceGuinea-Bissau.