Rapporti verbatim tad-dibattiti

Il-Ħamis, 6 ta' Mejju 2010 - Brussell

4. Atroċitajiet tal-massa f'Jos, in-Niġerja, f'Jannar u f'Marzu (dibattitu)

  El Presidente. − El siguiente punto es la Declaración de la Comisión sobre las masacres en Jos (Nigeria) en enero y marzo.

  Olli Rehn, Member of the Commission. − Mr President, we learnt with great sadness that former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died last night. He made a great contribution to the political and democratic life of Nigeria and through his policies contributed to the stability in particular of the subregion of West Africa.

According to the Constitution, acting President Jonathan automatically becomes the substantive President. We understand that he will be sworn in shortly, possibly by tonight, by Nigeria’s Chief of Justice. He in turn will be expected to swear in a Vice-President from the north of the country, which opens new speculations on the political scene in Nigeria.

The European Union has been a committed partner of Nigeria and has continued to give strong and constructive support during the recent difficult months of political uncertainty. The violent conflicts in Jos and surrounding villages in January and March this year, during which hundreds of citizens are reported to have been massacred or seriously injured, have been particularly devastating. Thousands have been left homeless and are currently in camps.

I fully share the concerns expressed by honourable Members on the mass atrocities in Jos and I would like to assure you that they triggered a resolute EU response.

As soon as news emerged about the events in January and March, the Commission was in contact with the International Red Cross in Nigeria and other local agencies, which confirmed that the humanitarian needs of most victims were being met and that hospitals were able to cope with the inflow of causalities. The EU was amongst the first of Nigeria’s international partners to make public its views on the violence.

In January, High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton issued a joint statement with Hillary Clinton, David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner expressing deep regret at the violence and tragic loss of lives. All parties were urged to exercise restraint and seek peaceful means to resolve differences, and called on the Federal Government to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice. The EU issued further declarations on Nigeria in February and March; they conducted a diplomatic démarche with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to convey condemnation of the most recent outbreaks of violence.

The EU requested that the Federal Government of Nigeria conduct a full investigation of the causes of the most recent violence and bring the perpetrators of violence to justice. In the last 10 years violent conflicts have caused the death of over 14 000 people in Nigeria and left over three million internally displaced people.

It is not possible to put Muslim or Christian communities in the role of either aggressor or victim, since historically they have, unfortunately, been both. It is apparent, however, that the conflict always involves extremely poor people. Conflicts presented as religiously motivated are often triggered by other causes, including conflicts between traditional rulers, land and resource struggles among communities, political in-fighting, and tensions between state and federal authorities. Religious differences often fuel and amplify existing differences, leading to larger clashes.

Measures being undertaken by the EU in Nigeria combine diplomacy with longer-term development cooperation. Under the EDF we support development cooperation in Nigeria. The two most important sectors are peace and security, and governance and human rights. We also actively promote peace and security through regular political dialogue with Nigeria under the Cotonou agreement and we engage in regular dialogue with Nigeria on human rights and democratic principles including ethnic, religious and racial discrimination.

Finally, I believe it is essential that we remain attentive to the issue of recurring intercommunal violence in Nigeria. I propose that it should be addressed as a priority for dialogue in the next EU-Nigeria ministerial meeting in the autumn of this year.

  Gay Mitchell, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, may I join with the Commissioner in expressing my sympathy to the people of Nigeria on the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The recent outbreaks of violence in Nigeria are emblematic of a wider problem that faces the country. The incidents that have taken place in Jos, a city that has a history of violence, are very alarming. The city lies at a crossroads between the Muslim north and the Christian south, a fact that has led many to believe that the incidents are solely based on religious hatred.

In our joint motion for a resolution we have called for a wider examination of the root causes of the conflict. Coming from Ireland I know that for far too long people spoke of the Northern Ireland conflict as a conflict between Catholics and Protestants, whereas in fact it was a much more nuanced thing than that and there were much more serious issues, including civil rights issues, at the heart of the problem.

It is imperative that we should avoid simplistic assertions that these atrocious killings are the results of religious hatred alone. There are social, political and economic factors that must be considered before we reach conclusions. The ethnic rivalry between the Hausa and the Berom people must also be recognised as a factor in the violence. The killings are similar in method and consequence to previous clashes in 2001, 2004 and 2008. Violence has been used in the past to settle differences and has once again triumphed over dialogue.

It is extremely disappointing that a country like Nigeria, which is the eighth-largest producer of oil in the world, has such a large proportion of the population living below the poverty line. It is only by ensuring peace and security, democracy and political stability, that Nigeria can haul itself out of poverty and create a wealth and social justice which will in turn lead people away from violence as a method of conflict resolution.

I urge the Commission to continue dialogue with Nigeria under the Cotonou Agreement, to examine the root causes of this conflict and to give every assistance necessary to ensure that these atrocities are not repeated.

  Thijs Berman, on behalf of the S&D Group. – Mr President, our S&D Group joins Commissioner Rehn in expressing our condolences after the death of the Nigerian President, Umaru Yar’Adua.

The violence between the Muslim and Christian population in Jos, Nigeria, in January and March this year, shows the tense and explosive state of this region. Although the obvious reason seems to lie in the religious dimension, we must also focus on other underlying causes, as my colleague Gay Mitchell rightly pointed out as well. Most importantly, the region suffers from scarce resources and the unequal access of different groups to these resources. Also, the struggle for fertile farmland is an important root cause for the violent conflicts between Christians and Muslim settlers. Indigenous farmers feel threatened by settlers looking for pasture for their livestock.

We therefore call for a wider examination of the causes of this conflict. If nothing is done about the poverty and discrimination, these clashes will continue. This means that the whole population needs equal opportunities and equal access to essential goods such as proper education or access to political power. A long-term and lasting solution can only be found if all these factors are taken into account. We call for a fair and transparent prosecution of the perpetrators of the violence, but we are shocked to hear that local governors are now threatening to execute death row inmates only in order to ease the overcrowding in Nigerian prisons, where people have to wait for years before they even see a judge. The Nigerian state governors should do better by addressing the many underlying problems in the criminal justice system. Only then can the perpetrators of the violent clashes have a fair and transparent trial.

  Charles Goerens, au nom du groupe ALDE. – Monsieur le Président, nous apprenons à l'instant la disparition de Umaru Yar'Adua. Moi aussi, je voudrais vous faire part de notre compassion, au nom de mon groupe, face à la disparition prématurée du président du Nigeria.

Cette disparition a lieu au moment où le clivage entre musulmans et chrétiens prend une tournure particulièrement atroce. Les 200 chrétiens tués dans la région de Jos sont à l'origine de la présente résolution. On pourrait longtemps épiloguer autour de cette barbarie pour retenir, une énième fois, qu'il y a à la base, bien entendu, un clivage religieux. On pourrait aussi, pour la énième fois, retenir que la pauvreté n'arrange strictement rien. Qu'elle est le résultat, entre autres, de l'incapacité des autorités politiques de venir à bout de la corruption. On pourrait aussi, pour la énième fois, mentionner les litiges autour des quelques rares ressources naturelles, notamment les terres fertiles, situées dans cette région, ainsi que le changement climatique qui, lui aussi, amplifie encore les facteurs que je viens de citer.

Que peut faire l'Union européenne en pareilles circonstances?

Bien entendu, elle peut invoquer l'article 8 de l'accord de Cotonou pour renforcer le dialogue avec les autorités politiques de ce pays. Nous allons le faire.

On peut aussi condamner les atrocités. Nous allons le faire dans la présente résolution.

On peut bien entendu déplorer que ce pays riche – premier pays exportateur de pétrole du continent africain – n'arrive pas à investir cette richesse aux fins de la lutte contre la pauvreté.

En fait, on peut tout faire, condamner, recondamner et rerecondamner tout cela. Je crois qu'il y a une lueur d'espoir et c'est le Nigeria lui-même qui doit se mettre à la pointe d'un mouvement de redressement de ce pays. Celui qui assure d'ores et déjà l'intérim, Goodluck Jonathan, a toutes les qualités requises pour lutter de façon courageuse contre les maux que je viens de citer.

C'est au pays lui-même de se redresser et je crois que rares sont les gens de cette trempe. Il faut souhaiter bon courage, lucidité et aussi apporter notre soutien à cette personnalité extraordinaire qu'est le président qui assume l'intérim dans ce pays.

  Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, au nom du groupe Verts/ALE. – Monsieur le Président, le groupe des Verts s'associe également aux condoléances qui viennent d'être exprimées par les collègues.

Nous soutenons complètement la résolution sur les atrocités de masse au Nigeria, qui ne sont malheureusement qu'un des éléments du triste tableau des droits de l'homme dans ce pays.

Je voudrais ici, pendant le temps qui m'est imparti, vous parler des prisons nigérianes, qui sont peuplées de détenus dont les droits sont systématiquement violés. Comme l'a révélé un rapport d'Amnesty International de 2008, 65 % des détenus dans ce pays n'ont jamais été reconnus coupables d'une quelconque infraction. Certains attendent d'être jugés depuis dix ans.

Les problèmes sont tels que le Nigeria n'a d'autre choix que de les reconnaître et de promettre de réformer le système. Réforme que l'on attend toujours.

Si je concentre mon intervention sur les prisons, c'est que l'actualité immédiate nous a encore rappelé à quel point la vie d'une personne humaine a peu de valeur au Nigeria, a fortiori dans les prisons.

Le Conseil économique national du Nigeria a annoncé le projet d'exécuter des centaines de condamnés à mort pour décongestionner les prisons. Tuer pour faire baisser la surpopulation carcérale. Rien de plus choquant, a fortiori quand il est certain que nombre de ces condamnés à mort sont innocents et que la plupart n'ont pas eu droit à un procès équitable, d'autant plus qu'en février 2009 le ministre fédéral des affaires étrangères du Nigeria déclarait devant l'ONU que son pays appliquait un moratoire de fait en matière de peine capitale.

C'est pourquoi je proposerai, à l'occasion du vote, un amendement oral visant à dénoncer cette prise de position récente de plusieurs gouverneurs nigérians.

  Peter van Dalen, namens de ECR-Fractie. – Voorzitter, ik betuig ook graag namens mijn fractie ons medeleven aan het Nigeriaanse volk bij het overlijden van de president.

Voorzitter, de gruweldaden, gepleegd in en rond Jos, zijn met geen pen te beschrijven en ze staan helaas niet op zichzelf. In de toekomst zal dit weer gebeuren, als er niets verandert. Nog vrijwel dagelijks zijn er geweldsuitbarstingen waarvan met name christenen het slachtoffer worden.

Voorzitter, Nigeria moet vier dingen doen. In de eerste plaats snel een onafhankelijk onderzoek instellen en kijken naar de rol van het leger, want dat is er kennelijk niet in geslaagd de burgers adequaat te beschermen. Ten tweede, de daders voor het gerecht brengen. Dit soort verschrikkelijke gebeurtenissen mogen niet getolereerd worden. Ten derde, de dialoog tussen de etnische en religieuze groepen stimuleren. Ten vierde, een oplossing zoeken voor de spanningen tussen de verschillende bevolkingsgroepen die aanspraak maken op dezelfde stukken land.

Voorzitter, Europa moet Nigeria bij deze maatregelen uiteraard bijstaan, maar ook het land onder druk zetten, want de spiraal van geweld moet echt gestopt worden.

  Marie-Christine Vergiat, au nom du groupe GUE/NGL. – Monsieur le Président, mes chers collègues, je vais bien évidemment moi aussi m'associer aux condoléances qui viennent d'être exprimées au peuple nigérian après la mort de son président.

La Gauche unitaire européenne/Gauche verte nordique ne votera pas la proposition de résolution commune qui nous est proposée aujourd'hui et elle a refusé de s'y associer.

En effet, nous considérons que cette résolution, contrairement à certains éléments d'intervention que je viens d'entendre, ne s'attaque pas réellement aux causes des violences récurrentes qui se produisent dans ce pays et n'en traite d'ailleurs qu'une partie, même si nous dénonçons ces violences et demandons effectivement que leurs auteurs soient poursuivis et jugés.

En effet, le Nigeria est un grand pays d'Afrique, riche d'une histoire séculaire, de loin le plus peuplé du continent avec ses 140 millions d'habitants. On pourrait même dire que ce devrait être un pays riche depuis qu'on y a découvert des gisements pétroliers. La valeur de son PIB le place en deuxième position en Afrique, après l'Afrique du Sud et avant l'Algérie. Pourtant, la majorité de sa population vit en-deçà du seuil de pauvreté et c'est le seul pays au monde disposant d'importantes ressources pétrolières à présenter un déficit budgétaire.

Comble de l'ironie, le Nigeria importe la quasi-totalité des produits pétroliers dont son économie a besoin en raison de l'insuffisance de ses capacités de raffinage. Il faut dire que ses trois principales raffineries sont hors d'état de fonctionner et, pire, que sa production d'or noir a chuté de façon impressionnante au cours de ces dernières années en raison des attaques incessantes perpétrées contre les installations pétrolières.

Pourquoi le Nigeria est-il dans cette situation?

Parce que ce pays est un exemple flagrant de la mainmise de certaines compagnies internationales, en l'occurrence de compagnies pétrolières, et notamment de l'une d'entre elles, qui exploite 40 % de l'or noir nigérian, sur les ressources de l'Afrique, avec la complicité de certains de nos gouvernements.

Ces compagnies font et défont les gouvernements en fonction de leurs besoins propres et au détriment des besoins de la population du pays. Le delta du Niger, dont la faune et la flore étaient parmi les plus belles du monde, est devenu un véritable dépotoir. Non seulement à cause de l'exploitation du pétrole mais aussi parce que, chaque mois, 500 conteneurs remplis de déchets toxiques les plus divers entrent dans le port et sont déposés à ciel ouvert dans d'immenses décharges.

Le Nigeria est l'un des pays les plus corrompus du monde. Les parrains des juntes successives se sont mis dans la poche plus de 325 milliards sur les 400 milliards que l'or noir a rapportés au pays. Et où sont ces dollars? Sur des comptes en Suisse, en Grande-Bretagne et en France.

Pour ma part, je trouve cette situation intolérable et je trouve que la résolution que nous adoptons n'est pas à la hauteur des enjeux qu'implique la solidarité internationale de l'Union européenne vis-à-vis de l'Afrique.

  Fiorello Provera, a nome del gruppo EFD. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, sappiamo quanto sia difficile la coesistenza pacifica tra le diverse comunità religiose in Nigeria, in particolare nei rapporti tra cristiani di varie confessioni e musulmani. Come ricordato nella risoluzione che voteremo, la situazione è gravissima: più di 14.000 persone sono state uccise durante scontri religiosi o etnici a partire dalla fine del regime militare del '99. Si parla di oltre 500 morti negli ultimi tre mesi.

La Nigeria non è purtroppo l'unico paese in cui si verificano scontri e tensioni tra comunità religiose, sarebbe pertanto auspicabile realizzare una relazione annuale del Parlamento europeo sulla libertà religiosa nel mondo, che affronti in modo strutturato un problema cruciale per la stabilità di molti paesi. Faccio riferimento a un'affermazione del Commissario Rehn, al quale rinnovo la mia stima personale. Ha detto che la Nigeria è un paese poverissimo: non è vero, la Nigeria è un paese ricchissimo ma afflitto da una classe dirigente corrotta e incapace che ha saccheggiato le risorse del paese, impoverendo milioni di concittadini.

Quindi il vero problema è questo e il rinnovamento sociale e economico di questo paese, come di molti altri paesi dell'Africa, passa attraverso una nuova classe dirigente attenta ai bisogni dei cittadini.

  Hans-Peter Martin (NI). - Herr Präsident! Nigeria wird nach der bevorstehenden Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft in Südafrika wieder im Schaufenster der Afrikapolitik stehen. Nigeria ist groß, es ist reich, aber sozial dramatisch ungleich aufgestellt. Und es ist natürlich in der Globalisierung im Spannungsfeld zwischen dem chinesischen Weg und einem möglichen europäischen Weg. Ich plädiere aus innerster Überzeugung dafür, dass wir auf dem europäischen Weg der konsequenten Verfolgung des Missbrauchs, der Missachtung von Menschenrechten bleiben, dass wir diejenigen, die in den Gefängnissen sitzen, zu unseren Partnern machen und nicht korrupte Anführer bestimmter Cliquen und Regierungskreise, wo man kurzfristig Vorteile erzielen kann. In diesem Fall ist diese Entschließung zu unterstützen und das, was die Kollegin von der Linken gesagt hat, auch zu unterstützen. Es geht nicht zu wenig weit, aber wir in der EU müssen für die Menschenrechte stehen und nicht für das, was China unter Missachtung der Menschenrechte mit Nigeria vorhat.

  Mario Mauro (PPE). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, la violenza non risolve i conflitti ma soltanto ne accresce le tragiche conseguenze. La violenza, prima ancora che sbagliata, immorale, ingiusta, disumana, non conviene: non è conveniente. È il mezzo cioè meno efficace per far sì che i problemi che affliggono un'intera regione trovino una soluzione, perché, appunto, se l'elemento che scatena le violenze tra la minoranza cristiana e i musulmani non è solo il fondamentalismo religioso ma la mancanza di sviluppo economico che comporta risentimento e tensione tra diversi gruppi etnici, quello che l'Unione europea, insieme all'Unione africana e a tutta la comunità internazionale, deve far capire a un governo federale della Nigeria, responsabile per molti versi di questa situazione, è per l'appunto che favorire la convivenza civile e pacifica tra le diverse etnie e comunità presenti nel paese è un fattore di convenienza per la collettività, di convenienza per tutto il popolo.

Oltre alla messa in atto, quindi, di un opportuno sistema di investigazioni, come molti hanno richiesto, e alla repressione dei responsabili dell'immane spargimento di sangue degli ultimi mesi – ma oserei dire degli ultimi anni – è necessario intraprendere ogni iniziativa possibile affinché venga supportato, da un lato, il dialogo interetnico e interreligioso, dall'altro la formazione, come tanti hanno richiesto, di una nuova classe dirigente.

Con questa risoluzione vogliamo in definitiva far comprendere che la soluzione dei conflitti, specie in un paese così ricco di materie prime – soprattutto di petrolio – come la Nigeria, implicherebbe un migliore accesso alle risorse, nonché una migliore ridistribuzione delle stesse, e credo che l'accordo firmato il 12 dicembre 2009 tra Repubblica federale nigeriana e Commissione europea potrà dare una grande spinta in questo senso.

La sicurezza è oggi, quindi, al centro degli innumerevoli problemi di questo paese e la principale minaccia non è il conflitto in se stesso ma le ragioni che hanno creato e generato il conflitto: è lì che occorre agire per accompagnare la Nigeria verso un vero sviluppo economico e democratico.

  Corina Creţu (S&D). - Doresc şi eu să mă alătur celor care au adresat condoleanţe poporului nigerian, al cărui preşedinte a încetat din viaţă în această noapte.

Din păcate, la tensiunile deja existente se adaugă, aşadar, un nou factor de risc: dispariţia unui centru de autoritate într-o ţară grav afectată de violenţă. După cum ştiţi, la începutul acestui an, peste 300 de musulmani au fost masacraţi pentru ca, nici două luni mai târziu, în numai două ore, un număr asemănător de creştini să fie ucişi. Acum, doar prezenţa în stradă a armatei întârzie planurile de răzbunare ale unor creştini şi musulmani.

În opinia mea, principala problemă o reprezintă în acest moment asigurarea ordinii, pentru a preveni noi atrocităţi şi, în acest sens, cred că este necesară o prezenţă internaţională. În al doilea rând, avem problema impunităţii, general valabilă de altfel, în zonele de conflict din Africa. În momentul în care tot mai mulţi criminali în masă vor fi arestaţi şi judecaţi, vom asista la o diminuare a violenţei. Este nevoie iarăşi de implicarea concretă a comunităţii internaţionale, care s-a dovedit sensibilă la problemele din Balcani şi din Orient, dar evită să-şi întoarcă privirile spre suferinţele Africii.

  Charles Tannock (ECR). - Mr President, as a boy I remember vividly seeing on television the pictures of the horrific civil war in the Nigerian region of Biafra. Forty years on, sadly, little seems to have changed. The sickening images from Jos, where hundreds of innocent people were hacked to death in an act of savagery, remind us that Nigeria is a chronically unstable country.

Ethnic, religious, particularly Christian versus Muslim, tribal, cultural and economic tensions appear to be endemic in Nigeria. The current uncertainty following the death yesterday of the President – I send my condolences to the Nigerian people – will inevitably result in a power struggle and this will follow on to compound the instability in that large Africa country. I am therefore worried about the long-term sustainability of Nigeria as a unitary state. Some, including the maverick President Gaddafi of Libya, have controversially suggested that Nigeria should be split into two. Certainly Sudan, another country divided between a Muslim north and a Christian South, looks probably set to separate into two parts next year. That likely division will set a precedent that colonial boundaries in Africa are no longer sacrosanct, which raises many interesting questions for the future of Africa.

  Joe Higgins (GUE/NGL). - Mr President, the horrific massacre in Plateau State in Nigeria in January and March has left hundreds of innocent victims and especially very many women and children. Although sectarian and tribal divisions are factors in this and other horrific massacres, we have to look deeper for the real causes.

Past colonial interference and brutal conquest in Africa, often exploiting communal and tribal divisions, have left a lasting legacy. The BBC’s news analysis recently declared that, although the violence is between Muslim and Christian, analysts say underlying causes are political and economic, referring to the dire poverty of the masses of the Nigerian people and the outright corruption of the ruling elites.

Nigeria is one of the most gifted countries on earth in terms of natural and mineral resources, including oil. Unfortunately the corrupt local elites and foreign multinationals, including Shell Oil, take the lion’s share of this wealth, leaving a huge swathe of the Nigerian people living in abject poverty. I stand with my colleagues form the Democratic Socialist movement in Nigeria who demand that the wealth of Nigeria is taken into public ownership and democratic control of the majority of the population, workers and poor. On the basis of this wealth it is entirely possible to build a decent life for all the people of Nigeria and on that basis also overcome the communal divisions. The alternative is indeed a break-up of Nigeria and further barbaric horrors inflicted on the people.

  Filip Kaczmarek (PPE). - Panie Przewodniczący! Nigeria to ważny kraj, bardzo ważny. Dlatego zajmujemy się tym, co wydarzyło się 7 marca w okolicach miejscowości Jos.

Problem w środkowej Nigerii nie polega wyłącznie na tym, że giną chrześcijanie, dlatego że w styczniu tego roku ginęli muzułmanie. W przypadku Nigerii na podziały religijne nakładają się różnego rodzaju podziały i była mowa o paru tych podziałach: ekonomicznych, etnicznych, społecznych. Ale istnieją też dwa inne rodzaje podziałów: historyczne (dlatego że chrześcijanie w tych okolicach uchodzą za miejscowych, a muzułmanie za obcych, mimo że mieszkają tam od dwóch, trzech pokoleń), a nawet różnice polityczne – chrześcijanie popierają z reguły rządzącą partię People's Democratic Party, a muzułmanie z reguły popierają opozycyjną All Nigeria People's Party. Więc tych różnic jest bardzo dużo i nie możemy traktować tych wydarzeń jako jednoznacznych prześladowań religijnych.

Konstytucja Nigerii zapewnia wolności religijne: swobodę wyznania, swobodę kultu religijnego i prawo do zmiany religii. Możecie Państwo uznać, że to jest naiwne podejście, że odwołuję się do konstytucji nigeryjskiej, ale chciałbym przypomnieć, że wartości wynikające z najstarszej spisanej konstytucji, konstytucji amerykańskiej, i najstarszej konstytucji spisanej w Europie, konstytucji polskiej, te wartości nadal są aktualne i żywe. Dlatego wzywamy rząd federalny Nigerii, gubernatorów i władze lokalne, aby rozwiązały ten problem nie tylko w imię naszych wartości, ale w imię wartości i zasad zapisanych w ich własnej konstytucji. Wydaje mi się, że to jest ważne, żeby odwołać się do ich własnych dokumentów.

  Laima Liucija Andrikienė (PPE). - Mr President, I would like to express my deep regret at the violence that broke out in the area of Jos and caused the deaths of several hundred people. This has been just another example of the importance of the reconciliation process that has to be enacted to enable peaceful coexistence between the northern Muslim population and the southern Christian population.

I would like to let you know that, in large part, the atrocities take place because of the hardships and the oppression of those inhabitants that live in the oil-rich areas and do not benefit from the overall development of the country. We urge the Nigerian authorities to make sure that more equitable and democratic development of all social groups in the country is ensured and that basic human rights are protected and enforced. Finally, especially today, my sympathy goes to the Nigerian people on the death of their President.

  Cristian Dan Preda (PPE). - Vreau să mă asociez şi eu celor care au prezentat condoleanţe poporului nigerian după moartea preşedintelui Umaru Yar'Adua.

Aş vrea să abordez două lucruri în intervenţia mea. În primul rând, aş vrea să plec de la ceea ce spunea unul din locuitorii Nigeriei, întrebat care este cauza răului din această ţară. Şi o spunea foarte clar, „vedem că persoane vinovate pentru atrocităţi, pentru crime sunt inculpate şi pe urmă”, zicea el, „dispar în capitală, nu-i mai vedem niciodată”, cu alte cuvinte responsabilitatea publică pentru crimele comise nu este niciodată evidentă.

În al doilea rând, aş vrea să subliniez faptul că trebuie să ţinem seama de dimensiunea religioasă a conflictului. Mai mulţi vorbitori de până acum au părut să spună că există o dimensiune religioasă, dar că, în fond, totul este social şi economic. Preşedintele în funcţie, Jonathan Goodluck, a luat în seamă, de altfel, această dimensiune şi a chemat liderii religioşi la un dialog. Trebuie să îl susţinem în această direcţie.

  Andrzej Grzyb (PPE). - Panie Przewodniczący! Obrazy, które widzieliśmy jeszcze nie tak dawno w różnych przekazach telewizyjnych, były wstrząsające. Swoisty pokot ludzi zamordowanych w mieście Jos i w jego okolicach był wstrząsający. Tak jak powiedział nasz kolega Mario Mauro, nie można niczym usprawiedliwić przemocy, która jest sama w sobie złem. My, jako społeczność europejska, jako posłowie do Parlamentu Europejskiego, nie możemy przejść nad tym do porządku dziennego. Stąd też głęboko popieram tę rezolucję.

Niezależnie od przyczyn, które leżą u źródeł konfliktu, i które pojawiają się jako tło tej przemocy, chcemy reagować po to, aby prawa człowieka i wolności obywatelskie były respektowane w bliskiej nam przecież Nigerii. Chcę też przy tej okazji złożyć kondolencje narodowi nigeryjskiemu w związku ze śmiercią prezydenta.

  Olli Rehn, Member of the Commission. − Mr President, thank you for a very serious and responsible debate today. Many of you have highlighted the complexity of societal problems in Nigeria. I agree with you, and the Commission is aware of the complexity of these problems. We continue our committed partnership with Nigeria, and I can only agree with you on how important it is to fight corruption and impunity, because corruption is unfortunately deeply rooted and hinders societal progress and the democratic process in this resource-rich country, and thus damages the lives of ordinary people.

We actively give strong and constructive support to Nigeria. We use a wide array of instruments from diplomacy to development and the Commission remains attentive and committed to containing the violence in Nigeria with the diplomatic means we have at our disposal.

The next forum to address this very important issue at a high level is the EU-Nigeria ministerial meeting in the autumn, and we shall certainly discuss this matter on that occasion.

  El Presidente. − Para cerrar el debate se han presentado 7 propuestas de resolución⁽¹⁾, de conformidad con el apartado 2 del artículo 110 del Reglamento.

Se cierra el debate.

La votación tendrá lugar hoy a las 11.00 horas.

Declaraciones por escrito (artículo 149 del Reglamento)

  Mara Bizzotto (EFD), per iscritto. – Da troppi anni giungono da questa terra, ricca di risorse naturali tanto quanto di drammi umanitari, notizie di uccisioni di massa e scontri interetnici che originano da motivi economici e sociali. Vorrei appena ricordare, però, le parole di un missionario cattolico che in Nigeria ha vissuto e operato: padre Piero Gheddo ha recentemente fatto presente che solo vent’anni fa, i rapporti tra musulmani e cristiani nelle zone centrali e settentrionali della Nigeria, erano certo difficili e segnati da forme di discriminazione anticristiana; mai tuttavia si era giunti a violenze massiva come quelle cui abbiamo assistito nell’ultimo decennio. Ebbene, il religioso ha precisato che se negli ultimi anni la situazione è peggiorata, è anche perché “si è esteso nella federazione nigeriana l’influsso dell’estremismo islamico espresso dall’ideologia di Al Qaida, in particolare in 12 stati del Nord che hanno adottato la Sharia come legge di Stato”. Siamo quindi d’accordo che le diverse etnie in Nigeria trova nelle differenti appartenenze religiose il pretesto ideale per scatenare violenze di massa reciproche. Ma ricordiamoci che il popoloso stato africano, che da anni soffre anche di una perdurante instabilità politica, è da anni teatro di un’ondata di estremismo islamista che non dobbiamo ignorare.

  Jarosław Leszek Wałęsa (PPE), na piśmie. – Jeżeli wartością nadrzędną w Unii Europejskiej ma być prawo do samodecydowania, czyli przestrzeganie zasad i wartości właściwych swojemu sumieniu, to wszelkie oznaki nietolerancji i nienawiści, prowadzące wręcz do morderstw i masakr na tle rasowym, etnicznym czy religijnym, powinny spotkać się z naszym natychmiastowym i jednoznacznym potępieniem. Potępienie to nie powinno się jednak ograniczać tylko do słów, powinno być czynami, które zagwarantują w przyszłości pokojowe współistnienie.

  Zbigniew Ziobro (ECR), na piśmie. – Panie Przewodniczący, Na wstępie chciałbym wyrazić swój głęboki smutek spowodowany informacjami o styczniowych i marcowych zamieszkach w Jos w Nigerii, w których zginęły setki chrześcijan i muzułmanów. Warto pamiętać, że tak straszliwe wydarzenia w Jos mają miejsce nie po raz pierwszy. Do walk pomiędzy wiernymi obu religii dochodzi od 2001 roku. Fakt, że stan napięcia, który od czasu do czasu przeradza się w otwarte starcia, trwa już od dekady jest potwierdzeniem tego jak ważną rolę ma do odegrania państwo jako animator procesów pojednawczych. To, z jak głębokimi podziałami mamy do czynienia pokazuje skomplikowane tło konfliktu. Nigeryjskich chrześcijan i nigeryjskich muzułmanów różni nie tylko religia; na ten podstawowy podział nakłada się podział historyczny, ponieważ w regionie, w którym dochodzi do zamieszek to chrześcijanie uchodzą za miejscowych, a muzułmanie za przyjezdnych. Te dwa podziały przekładają się na poparcie przez chrześcijan i muzułmanów innych ugrupowań politycznych, co stanowi niejako przedłużenie konfliktu. Jednakże, koniec końców, źródłem konfliktu są różnice religijne i nieumiejętność lub niezdolność władz do ułożenia pokojowej egzystencji pomiędzy dwiema grupami. Nadchodzącej jesieni odbędzie się ministerialne forum UE-Nigeria i uważam, że problem ten powinien znaleźć się w agendzie spotkania. Ponadto, Komisja powinna dokładać wszelkich starań, aby wykorzystywać dostępne jej instrumenty dyplomatyczne w celu poprawy sytuacji w Nigerii.

(Se suspende la sesión unos minutos a la espera del inicio del turno de votaciones).

PŘEDSEDNICTVÍ: PAN LIBOR ROUČEK
místopředseda

(1) Véase el Acta.