B3-1697, 1747 and 1754/93

Resolution on the continued attacks on the Marsh Arabs of Iraq

The European Parliament,

-recalling its previous resolutions on this subject, especially that of 11 March 1993 on human rights in Iraq,

A.appalled by the latest report of Mr Max Van der Stoel, the UN Special Rapporteur for Iraq, on the continued attacks on the Marsh Arabs,

B.drawing attention to the Special Rapporteur's statements that the Government of Iraq is responsible for continuing indiscriminate shelling of civilian settlements on a large scale, despite the creation of a no-fly zone by the coalition powers on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 688,

C.drawing attention to the Special Rapporteur's statement that the Iraqi Government by many varied measures is denying 'the marsh dwellers access to food and health care',

D.drawing attention to the Special Rapporteur's conclusion that 'the Government of Iraq is significantly responsible for the draining of the marshes' and so for the destruction 'of the traditional ways of life' of the indigenous people,

E.pointing out that this drainage is detrimental to the environment of the marshes and has a negative impact on the neighbouring regions,

F.noting that, owing to these actions, thousands of Shias have fled to Iran where they live in refugee camps in extremely poor conditions,

G.stressing that these crimes of the Iraqi regime are in violation of Iraq's international obligations,

H.believing that action to prevent the continuation of these atrocities would do much to give the common foreign and security policy of the European Union authority, and would earn respect internationally and among the European electorate,

1.Insists that it is imperative that Saddam Hussein's murderous campaign against the Marsh Arabs be stopped and that human rights be fully respected in Iraq;

2.Warns that further delay in bringing these atrocities to a halt might cause an escalation of violence in the region;

3.Stresses that the coalition powers, including Member States of the European Union, have already successfully stopped air attacks on the Marsh Arabs acting under UN Security Council Resolution 688;

4.Urges the Commission to provide emergency aid to the refugees in Iran and use all possible means to send food and medical supplies to the people in the Marshlands;

5.Insists that the ending of all actions against the Marsh Arabs is one of the essential conditions for lifting the international boycott against Iraq;

6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Member States of the Security Council, the Governments of all States which participated in the UN action against Iraq, the UN Special Rapporteur for Iraq and the Government of Iraq.