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 Margrete Auken
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
on Guinea-Bissau

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

B6‑0120/2009

European Parliament resolution on Guinea-Bissau

The European Parliament,

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

• A.deeply concerned by the assassination of President João Bernardo Vieira after the killing of the country’s army chief of staff, Gen Tagme Na Wai,
• B.whereas the Guinea-Bissau's National Assembly speaker Raimundo Pereira was sworn in as interim head of state and whereas the armed forces pledged to respect the country's constitution,
• C.whereas Mr Vieira ruled placeplaceGuinea-Bissau from 1980 to 1999 before being deposed in a military coup and returned from exile in 2004 and was reinstated as President after the 2005 elections,
• D.whereas in the November 2008 parliamentary elections the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) won a majority seat while Mr Vieira’s alliance was heavily defeated,
• E.whereas Guinea-Bissau is confronted with drug traffic and serves as major drugs transit point between South America and Europe and drug traffic constitutes a serious threat to the political stability of the country,
• F.whereas drug cartels with access to weapons, speedboats and planes have been able to secure cooperation from senior officials in the armed forces and government in one of the world's poorest countries, whose main export is cashew nuts,
• G.whereas Guinea-Bissau's decades of political instability led the country in deep crisis including lack of access to clean water, health, education and civil servants across many ministries face months of wage arrears,
• 1.Condemns the assassination of President João Bernardo Vieira and Gen Tagme Na Wai, army chief of staff,
• 2.Calls on the new government to hold presidential elections in 60 days in conformity with the provisions of the constitution;
• 3.Welcomes the army's pledge to respect the country's constitution and insists for a strict respect of the constitutional order;
• 4.Calls on political parties to reach a consensus on a comprehensive reform process as regard to the army, police, security sector and the justice system as a first step to political stability;
• 5.Calls on the commission and the UN Peace building Support Office to take the necessary steps to combat drug trafficking, which is a major destabilising factor of the country;
• 6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the government of Guinea Bissau, the Secretary-General of the UN and the Secretary-General of the AU.