THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, WITH A LARGE MAJORITY, HAS ADOPTED AN URGENT RESOLUTION THAT ASKS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, TO SUSPEND THE EXECUTION OF JOSEPH O'DELL

Strasbourg-Brussels, July 17, 1997. Under the initiative of the ERA, Greens, EPP, GUE, ESP and UPE, the European Parliament has adopted, with a large majority, an urgent resolution on the O'Dell case, an American citizen sentenced to death, whose execution is scheduled for next July 23. In its document the EP launches "a solemn appeal to the Governor of the State of Virginia, and to other American concerned institutions, so that Mr. O'Dell's condemnation be changed."

Quoting the "numerous demonstrations of solidarity for mr. O'Dell all over the world," the EP recalls that "the death sentence has been, and still is, subject to human errors that cause the death of innocent people."

Olivier Dupuis, MEP and General Secretary of the Transnational Radical Party has declared:

"This resolution confirms the commitment of the European Parliament in the long and difficult struggle for the universal abolition of the death penalty. Last month, under the initiative of the Transnational Radical Party and the association "Hands Off Cain", the EP approved a resolution that committed the EU and its Member States, to lead abolitionist countries at the UN, and make 1998 the year in which the General Assembly will adopt a document for the universal moratorium on capital executions -the first step towards the total abolition of the death penalty in the world.

Transnational Radical Party

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