RESOLUTION B3-0046, 0075, 0078, 0081 and 0104/93

Resolution on the situation in Angola

The European Parliament,

A.deploring the resumption of civil war in Angola which is bringing renewed suffering to a country which has endured nearly three decades of conflict,

B.whereas under the peace agreement of 31 May 1991 Angola ended a civil war which had lasted 16 years and in which around 350 000 people had died,

C.concerned that the results of the September 1992 legislative elections have not been accepted by all sides, although declared free and fair by the international community,

D.disturbed at the reports of deprivation of liberty and imprisonment of numerous civilians, including elected representatives,

E.concerned at rumours of mistreatment and even rape of women,

F.condemning any atrocities committed by any party to the conflict,

G.whereas fighting has broken out again with renewed force and with the involvement of armed civilians, particularly in the towns and provincial capitals, and has reached the point where UN officials in the country feel that the situation is running out of control,

H.whereas this situation is causing large-scale migrations and a mass exodus from the country,

I.whereas a peaceful solution to the war must involve all Angolans, since no stable peace can be based on the political or military annihilation of one side by the other,

J.stressing the positive role played by the UN following the Bicesse May 1991 peace agreements,

K.recalling its resolutions of 29 October Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 14 and 19 November 1992 Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 4 on the situation in Angola,

1.Calls for an immediate ceasefire by all parties to the conflict and the resumption of the peace process following the Bicesse agreements and elections;

2.Points out that responsibility for the breaking of the peace accords lies with UNITA, since it has disputed the outcome of the elections;

3.Hopes that the second round of the presidential elections can take place as soon as possible, in accordance with the terms of the Bicesse agreements, and that elected bodies, in particular the Angolan Parliament, can take up their duties with the participation of all their members, some of whom are deprived of their freedom and in police custody;

4.Calls on UNAVEM (United Nations Angola Verification Mission), the observer countries and European Political Cooperation to define the means required to enable the democratic process to continue and insists on the need for an adequate presence of UN or other international observers to ensure that the election is free and fair;

5.Calls on the United Nations, the EC and the countries which contributed to the Bicesse Agreements to continue to make every effort to obtain an immediate end to the war by creating an effective dialogue, and the resumption of the peace process, while ensuring the operation of the democratically elected parliament under international control;

6.Welcomes the recent resumption of UN relief flights to provincial capitals;

7.Undertakes to support the country's democratic development by means of the budget heading provided for the purpose of promoting respect for human rights throughout the world;

8.Calls once again for the emergency implementation of an aid programme to assist the new government in tackling the serious economic and social problems caused by the reconstruction of the country;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, EPC, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the UN, the governments of the Member States, the governments of the USA, Angola and South Africa, the Secretary-General of the OAU, the Co-Presidents of the ACP/EEC Joint Assembly, the President of the Russian Republic and the Presidents of the MPLA and UNITA.