MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Kyrgyzstan
28.4.2010
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Hannes Swoboda, Katarína Neveďalová, Justas Vincas Paleckis, Marc Tarabella, Henri Weber on behalf of the S&D Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0246/2010
B7‑0256/2010
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Kyrgyzstan
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia with regard, in particular, to the one of 12 May 2005,
– having regard to its resolution of 20 February 2008 on an EU Strategy for Central Asia,
– having regard to the statement of the VP/HR Catherine Ashton on the situation in Kyrgyzstan of 8 April 2010,
– having regard to the EU Strategy for a New Partnership with Central Asia adopted by the European Council of 21/22 June 2007,
– having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Kyrgyzstan that entered into force in 1999,
– having regard to the European Community Regional Strategy Paper for Assistance to Central Asia for the period 2007-2013,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas it is in the interests of both the peoples of Central Asia and of the European Union in seeing progress towards stability and rising levels of democratic and human development, human security and sustainable growth throughout the region,
B. whereas Kyrgyzstan is an OSCE member and within this framework is committed to the respect for fundamental freedoms, human rights and the rule of law and to the implementation of OSCE democratic standards,
C. whereas Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who first took office in July 2005 after the so-called Tulip revolution, was re-elected last year for another term as president in an election that independent monitors said were tainted by massive fraud; whereas after his initial democratic undertakings Bakiyev’s rule turned authoritarian and repressive and his regime was widely perceived as corrupted and marred by abuses of authority,
D. whereas on 7 April 2010 Kyrgyz troops intervened using bullets, tear gas and stun grenades against a crowd of protesters who gathered in front of the presidential office in Bishkek and then stormed government buildings to demonstrate over a sharp increase in prices for electricity and heating leaving many dead and injured,
E. whereas President Bakiyev was forced to flee the capital and his place was taken by an interim government led by the opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva who issued a decree on power succession and an order of compliance with the Kyrgyz constitution and dissolved parliament,
F. whereas after trying to set the conditions for his resignation a week after the uprising Bakiyev left the country for Kazakhstan under an agreement brokered by Russia, the US and Kazakhstan; whereas Bakiyev publicly declared that he had signed a letter of resignation under pressure put on him and his family and that despite his resignation statement he still was the legitimate president of Kyrgyzstan until the Parliament relieved him of his duties,
G. whereas on 13 April 2010 the Kyrgyz Constitutional Court in order to assure stability and avoid confrontation between the political forces was forced to heed the demands of the country’s interim government that the court be disbanded,
H. whereas the situation in Kyrgyzstan is still unstable with the outbreak of new ethnic riots in the outskirts of Bishkek on 19 April 2010 leaving people dead and injured challenging the efforts of the interim government to restore the order; whereas in Jalalabad Bakiyev’s supporters installed a pro-Bakiyev governor after seizing a regional government office; whereas clashes between the supporters of the two sides are still going on in some parts of the country,
I. whereas the government of the Russian Federation has adopted a package of USD 50 million in economic assistance to Kyrgyzstan along with shipments of gasoline and diesel for spring harvest,
J. whereas Central Asia is to a great extent characterised by poverty and a multitude of serious threats against human security, as well as by bad governance, strong authoritarianism and lack of legal channels for expressing discontent and pursuing political change; whereas this can turn out to be the breeding ground for underground radical Islamist movements and rapid growth of such movements in the poorest countries,
K. whereas the EU must always uphold its commitment to mainstream human rights, democracy and the rule of law in all agreements with third states and to promote democratic reforms through coherent policies enhancing its credibility as regional player,
1. Expresses it deepest concern at the situation in Kyrgyzstan and offers its condolences to the families of all the victims of the tragic events;
2. Calls on all parties to stop violence, show restraint and make every effort so as to start a genuine dialogue aimed at bringing stability and provide the conditions for a peaceful return to a democratic constitutional order;
3. Calls for a UN-led international investigation into the events in order to identify responsibilities and shortfalls and provide the assistance to the Kyrgyz judicial authorities so that they bring perpetrators to justice ensuring the respect and fairness of the judicial procedures;
4. Welcomes the first steps taken by the provisional government to restore democracy with regard, in particular, to the plans to draft a new constitution overhauling Bakiyev’s revision that concentrated excessive power in the hands of the presidency and calls for new elections as soon as the conditions for free and fair elections are met and the necessary legislation is adopted and implemented;
5. Welcomes, in this regard, the announcement of the interim government to hold the referendum on the new constitution on 27 June 2010 and new general elections on 10 October 2010;
6. Stresses that a dynamic social policy and efforts to address cultural and educational issues are the best protection against excesses which leave people destitute and easily influenced, a prey to movements seeking to exploit their poverty for terrorist ends;
7. Stresses the danger involved in creating and manipulating popular militias;
8. Highlights in particular the importance of providing everyone with access to electricity supplies, the cost of which has apparently tripled over a very short time, profiting companies owned by President Bakiyev’s family;
9. Urges the interim government to make all efforts so as to create the conditions for and effective and transparent system that can curb the dominance of clan politics and stimulate political, social and economic development;
10. Points out that the Tulip Revolution of 2005 had created strong expectations of democratic reforms in the Kyrgyz society that did not materialise due also to the lack of coherence and assertiveness of the EU policy towards this country; calls on the Council and the Commission not to miss another opportunity and to find ways so as to assist the interim government of Kyrgyzstan and help the authorities to pursue democratic reforms and improve peoples’ lives through national development and empowerment of citizens in cooperation with all the stakeholders and the Kyrgyz civil society;
11. Notes that Kyrgyzstan’s deep lack of resources and vulnerability makes it highly dependent on outside support; also notes a severe shortage in its neighbourhood of models of democratic, well-functioning governance and of positive social development; stresses, in this regard, that international assistance will be crucially important;
12. Calls on the VP/HR’s Special Representative for Central Asia to follow closely the situation, provide assistance and facilitate the resumption of dialogue between all the components of the Kyrgyz society; urges him, at the same time, to work in close cooperation with the UN with a view to convening an international donors’ conference where to address the humanitarian problems and the basic needs of Kyrgyzstan and provide the necessary aid for the sustainable development of the country;
13. Calls on the Commission and the Council to urgently examine whether conditions for the launch of an internationally coordinated major new aid programme for Kyrgyzstan exist or can be created, taking into account not least how strong the Kyrgyz provisional government’s actual commitment to democratisation and clean government appears to be;
14. Calls for particular vigilance towards the risk of a North-South divide in the country, and for real support to enable Kyrgyzstan to develop its national identity in opposition to the tribal situation that currently divides it;
15. Calls for extensive use of the Instrument for Stability and asks the Commission to prepare proposals on re-allocations of funds of the Development Cooperation Instrument to help make sure that the short as well as medium term EU response to the new situation in Kyrgyzstan will be of an adequate scale;
16. Looks forward to the review of the progress made in implementing the EU strategy for the region and calls for efforts in order to make it more credible, concrete and coherent to create and help the stability of the region and support a peaceful and stable future;
17. Stresses that efforts should be made so as to avoid that Kyrgyzstan becomes an area of confrontation between stronger regional actors and urges the VP/HR and the Commission to find ways to turn the country into an area of cooperation among the major players in the interest of the whole population of Kyrgyzstan;
18. Stresses that an obvious concern of European citizens is the solidarity with Kyrgyz citizens with a key priority to create stability and peace, a better future and a democratic development, and to prevent violence in demonstration and to help the government to prepare democratic elections; ;
19. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council and the Commission and to the OSCE, and the parliaments of the Russian Federation, the US and Kazakhstan.