Resolution on the situation in Zaire

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the worsening political situation in Zaire and the resulting serious risks to the Zairean people and the Central African region as a whole,

B. condemning the attitude of President Mobutu, who has demanded first the resignation and then the reshuffling of the government in order to win back key posts for members of his entourage,

C. strongly condemning the pressure exerted by President Mobutu with a view to destabilizing the government of his own country,

D. condemning the intimidation currently being exercised by the Civil Guard and the members of the Presidential Guard with a view to halting the democratization process now under way in Zaire,

E. whereas there is a real danger that these actions will lead to civil war,

F. having regard to the influence and responsibility of the various Western countries,

G. reemphasizing, in line with its previous positions, the legitimacy of the decisions and recommendations of the Sovereign National Conference,

1. Strongly condemns President Mobutu's current actions;

2. Calls on the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States (particularly those of the main aid donors to Zaire: Belgium and France) and the United States to take all appropriate measures to isolate President Mobutu and his military, political and diplomatic apparatus;

3. Calls on the Council and the government of the Member States to seize and hold the property of President Mobutu and his associates in Belgium, France and any other Member States until the issues raised in two reports discussed by the Sovereign National Conference (on misappropriation of public resources and elimination of political opponents) have been clarified;

4. Calls on the Commission to step up development cooperation with Zaire, on the basis of the requests made by the Zairean Government, giving priority to support for local organizations and programmes which consolidate democratic processes;

5. Calls on the Commission to draw up a programme of institutional support for Zaire with a view to overseeing further moves towards democracy (electoral process, etc.);

6.Appeals to the international community, the representatives of the churches and the league for human rights to pay special attention to the delegates to the conference who are now returning to their provinces;

7. Calls on the Commission to step up its food aid, with the support of NGOs, giving priority to the purchase of foodstuffs on the spot or in neighbouring countries;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the US Administration and the Zairean Government.