B3-1223, 1229, 1236 and 1241/93

Resolution on the situation in Algeria

The European Parliament,

-recalling its previous resolutions, and notably those of 11 July 1991 on the situation in Algeria, of 15 January 1992 on the Community's cooperation protocols with the countries of the Mediterranean and of 26 May 1993 on relations with the Maghreb,

A.having regard to the serious crisis which Algeria is experiencing, in particular since the 1988 riots which claimed over 1000 lives,

B.alarmed at the continuing murder of intellectuals, journalists, senior civil servants and members of the general public in Algeria,

C.having regard to the assassination of President Boudiaf and the former prime minister, Kazdi Merbah,

D.whereas the deteriorating social and economic situation, corruption and the lack or inadequacy of democratic debate are encouraging a rise in fundamentalism,

E.whereas the acts of sabotage against the country's industrial fabric and the use of terrorism by the fundamentalists are exacerbating a situation that is already tense,

F.having regard to the thousands of people arrested and interned in detention camps, the use of torture, the executions and the curfew imposed in the main towns in Algeria,

G.whereas the seriousness of the social and economic crisis in Algeria is due to the grave mistakes and failings of successive governments which have failed to address the socio-economic problems facing the population and in particular youth unemployment, and to their mismanagement of the country's natural resources,

1.Condemns in the strongest possible terms the attacks and violence which have claimed thousands of victims and pays tribute to the memory of those victims;

2.Considers that the policies and the violence of the fundamentalist movements and the statements made by their leaders represent a serious threat to democracy and basic freedoms;

3.Takes the view that a policy of repression which inevitably entails human rights violations cannot achieve the objective of democratization in Algeria, and reaffirms the need for dialogue and a policy of non-violence to achieve a peaceful solution to the Algerian crisis;

4.Calls on the Council to raise the issue of human rights in the negotiations regarding the cooperation agreements with Algeria;

5.Calls on the Algerian Government to promote a far-ranging dialogue between all the democratic forces and thus to foster the conditions necessary for the emergence of real democratization in Algeria eventually leading to free and pluralist elections;

6.Desires that the current negotiations between the international financial institutions and Algeria allow ways to be found to reduce Algeria's foreign debt and to revive the economy with a view to creating suitable conditions for the creation of jobs, an improvement in social conditions and the promotion of women's rights;

7.Is convinced of the profound need to relaunch and intensify cooperation between the European Community and the Maghreb, whatever obstacles may arise;

8.Supports all efforts to relaunch the dialogue and cooperation within the 5 + 5, the Mediterranean states;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the Government of Algeria.