Resolution on the worsening plight of the 353 Portuguese and 128 other foreign nationals being held in Huambo, Angola

B3-0897, 0916 and 0935/93

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its resolutions on the situation in Angola of 29 October 1992, 19 November 1992, 21 January 1993 and 22 April 1993 and the resolution adopted by the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly meeting in Gabarone on 1 April 1993,

A.noting that 353 Portuguese and 128 other foreign nationals including Cape Verdians, Brazilians, citizens of S o Tomé and Community and other countries have been held in Huambo since the fall of the city on 6 March 1993,

B.having regard to their legitimate desire to leave the country, given the lack of food and medicine for injured persons, which puts their very survival at risk,

C.whereas this situation is the sole responsibility of UNITA which has military control over the city,

1.Condemns firmly the restrictions imposed on these citizens and demands that they be evacuated as a matter of urgency;

2.Condemns the use of foreign nationals as pawns in the political and military struggle; does not accept that they should be used as hostages under any circumstances in a struggle in which they have no part;

3.Recommends that the Community and its Member States call on UNITA fully to respect the human rights of foreign civilians working in Angola;

4.Reiterates its appeal to the UN and the Community to pursue their efforts to resume the peace process so as to put an immediate end to the war;

5.Calls for an immediate emergency aid programme to assist and evacuate the people whose lives are at risk;

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