B3-1059, 1060, 1089, 1101 and 1107/93

Resolution on progress towards democracy in South Africa

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on South Africa,

A.whereas a large majority of the participants in the Multi-Party Negotiating Conference in South Africa agree that a constituent assembly should be elected on 27 April 1994 in free general elections,

B.whereas these first general elections open to all the people of South Africa will be a milestone in progress towards a democratic South Africa,

C.deploring the fact that each new step towards democracy in South Africa is marked by new loss of human life arising from the refusal of extremists to accept the negotiations underway,

D.insisting on the duty of the security forces to do all in their power to prevent such violence and to bring those responsible to justice,

E.deeply concerned at the socio-economic situation in South Africa, and especially in the townships, where chronic unemployment and poverty exist, leading to grave social inequality,

F.whereas the EC special programme to support the victims of apartheid has been broadened at Parliament's request to include aid to the building of a non-racial South Africa, notably through the creation of jobs, housing and education for the most disadvantaged sections of the population,

G.whereas, at its initiative, the EC has a budget to support democratization in third countries,

1.Welcomes the agreement to hold the first general elections on 27 April 1994, based on one person, one vote;

2.Deplores and condemns the refusal by some extremist political parties to accept the holding of free and democratic elections;

3.Draws attention to the great importance of an early and broad consensus on essential elements of the future constitutional system, such as a Bill of Rights and a clear definition of the rights and powers of the regions;

4.Stresses that, if a non-racial democracy operating under the rule of law and respecting the human rights of all its citizens is to succeed, it is of crucial importance that all the people of South Africa should be confident that their right to self-expression is guaranteed;

5.Is of the opinion that it is absolutely necessary for the electoral process and the election of the constituent assembly to be free and fair and for the various parties to be able to campaign effectively throughout the country;

6.Is of the opinion that a decrease in violence is a precondition for such election campaigns to be effective and expects all parties, especially those who do not agree to the election date, to do everything in their power to control their rank and file;

7.Calls on the Member States to assist in programmes for the training of the South African police in avoiding violence and respect for human rights;

8.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take early initiatives to support free and fair elections, especially by strengthening the Community's observation mission and by promoting UN monitoring;

9.Believes that the EC and the Member States must support the electoral process as such and that the EC should therefore focus its aid on the proposed Independent Electoral Commission;

10.Takes the view that equality of political rights for all citizens of South Africa must be extended to include social rights, since social inequalities have been closely linked with racial segregation;

11.Takes the view that the acceleration in the breakdown of the social fabric over several years, unemployment (40% of the black population is unemployed), violence and crime represent a major threat to the future of South Africa;

12.Calls, in this spirit, on the Commission and Council to draw up an economic and social development plan for a democratic South Africa and to extend the EC special programme to include other organizations operating in South Africa;

13.Recalls its former resolutions on the need to lift sanctions, except those on the supply of arms, and to promote investment in South Africa;

14.Is of the opinion that some form of dialogue must be established between the European Parliament and the Transitional Executive Council;

15.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, EPC and all the parties participating in the Multi-Party Negotiating Conference.