RESOLUTION B3-0824/92

Resolution on the political situation in Lebanon

The European Parliament,

A.whereas the fall of Mr Karame's government was due essentially to the uprising of a people exasperated by the constant deterioration in living conditions and food shortages,

B.whereas the new government of Mr Rachid Solh, like the previous government, still contains a two-thirds majority of pro-Syrian ministers,

C.whereas the preparations for the general election, originally scheduled for summer 1993 and brought forward to this summer, should be carried out under international supervision in order to guarantee freedom of expression for the Lebanese people,

1.Deplores the lack of interest shown by the international community and the European Community in particular in the Lebanese cause and the suffering of a people completely exhausted by 15 years of war and now faced with very serious food shortages;

2.Recalls that the Taëf Accords made it possible actually to end the fighting but also sanctioned the control of Lebanon by Syria;

3.Welcomes the prospect of a general election, which will be the first to be held in Lebanon for some 20 years;

4.Is concerned, however, at the conditions under which these elections are being prepared and the difficulties faced by the authorities in establishing reliable electoral roles, because of the destruction of archives and the number of false identity papers in circulation;

5.Therefore calls on European Political Cooperation to organize international monitoring to guarantee truly free elections in Lebanon, so that the country may finally rediscover its identity;

6.Hopes that, to this end, a delegation of European observers will be sent both in the period leading up to the election and to ensure that the election itself runs smoothly;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, European Political Cooperation and the Lebanese authorities.