MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Madagascar
7.6.2011
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Ryszard Czarnecki, Tomasz Piotr Poręba on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0353/2011
B7‑0353/2011
European Parliament resolution on Madagascar
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolution on 7 May 2009 on the situation in Madagascar,
- having regard to its previous resolution on 10 February 2010 on the situation in Madagascar,
- having regard to the condemnations of the illegal grabbing of power and the violations of Human Rights by Mr. Rajoelina and his supporters, by international organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union, the South African Development Community, the European Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the International Organization of la Francophonie, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as many countries, after the events taking place on 17 March;
- having regard to the work of the International Contact Group on Madagascar, and in particular the Maputo and Addis Ababa agreements concluded on 9 August 2009 and 6 November 2009 respectively,
- having regard to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly resolution on 3 December 2009 on Madagascar,
- having regard to the SADC Extraordinary Summit on Madagascar of 19 May 2011;
- having regard to the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton statement of 23 November 2010,
- having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas Mr. Andry Rajoelina, on 17 March 2009, grabbed power by unconstitutional and violent means, and whereas Mr Marc Ravalomanana, the democratically-elected President was forced to leave Madagascar,
B. Whereas ongoing political instability and humanitarian concerns still prevail within Madagascar since the coup d'état,
C. Whereas the United Nations Security Council and the international organizations of which Madagascar is a member do not recognize this de facto regime and are calling for constitutional government to be restored,
D. Whereas there is still no agreement on how to achieve a peaceful transition,
E. Whereas an agreement was reached among the four main political groupings, among them Mr. Rajoelina’s movement, during talks in Maputo on 8 and 9 August and Addis Ababa on 6 November 2009,
F. Whereas the current process of negotiations under international mediation led by President Joaquim Chissano continues, as decided by the SADC Troika on March 31 last,
G. Whereas Mr. Rajoelina and his High Authority of Transition have in the past consistently violated the agreement and unilaterally blocked any progress towards a consensual solution, and continue to use violent and oppressive means to intimidate and harass the citizens of Madagascar,
H. Whereas the majority of the population lives on less than USD 1 a day, the country has in recent years been hit by droughts and meagre harvests, and a large part of the population now faces another threat to its subsistence, which has been further impacted by article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement,
I. Whereas on Monday, 6 July 2009, the European Union initiated a consultation process with Madagascar pursuant to Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement,
J. Whereas on 7 June 2010, the European Union decided to close the consultations with the Republic of Madagascar and adopted appropriate measures under article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement - including the suspension of aid;
1. Strongly condemns the coup d’état by Mr Rajoelina, and their illegal, illegitimate, and undemocratic seizing of power;
2. Stresses the urgent need for free and transparent elections by democratic standards under the supervision of the international community;
3. Calls for an immediate restoration of the legal and constitutional order in the country and urges the Malagasy parties to comply fully with the provisions of the Constitution of Madagascar in resolving the crisis;
4. Insists that the a neutral, consensual and inclusive transitional government must be formed, in order to resolve the crisis with the full support of the international community;
5. Insists that Mr Rajoelina and his High Transitional Authority return to the roadmap for transition agreed upon by the four parties involved in the Maputo and Addis Ababa agreements,
6. Demands the unconditional liberation of all political prisoners;
7. Demands the immediate cessation of all acts of violence and harassment by all groups;
8. Calls for the independent investigation of these acts, the aim of which should be to bring the perpetrators of Human Rights’ violations to justice;
9. Stresses that M. Rajoelina's government is not recognized by either the EU or by any member country of the International Contact Group-Madagascar;
10. Stresses that the African Union has confirmed, at its Summit on January 31, 2011, individual and selective sanctions agreed at the summit on 17 March 2010, against Mr. Rajoelina and over a hundred other people who support the High Authority of the Transitional Government;
11. Supports the regional initiatives aimed at bringing an end to the political violence and the restoration of peace and rule of law, including the efforts made by the South African Development Community and the African Union and the established International Contact Group;
12. Calls on the European Union, its Member States, and other national and international organizations to design individual targeted sanctions aimed at the instigators of the violence and conflict until the crisis is resolved;
13. Draws attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in the country and calls on the European Union, its Member States, and other national and international organizations to increase humanitarian aid, aimed specifically at those parts of the population of Madagascar who are suffering most from this ongoing period of instability;
14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the legitimate authorities of the Republic of Madagascar, the High Authority of Transition, the UN Secretary-General, the African Union, the SADC, the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.