B4-0322/94

Resolution on the situation in Burundi and the fate of its inhabitants

The European Parliament,

A.recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in Burundi,

B.deeply concerned at the fate of the displaced persons and refugees and by the threats to all the citizens of Burundi,

C.fully aware of the extremely fragile nature of the balance in the country and the danger that it may sink into the murderous chaos which has ravaged Rwanda,

1.Welcomes the election of the President of the Republic, which will shortly be followed by the formation of a coalition government in which the political parties and ethnic groups involved in the conflict will be equally represented;

2.Urges the international community and, more specifically, the Commission and the EU Member States to lend their full support to the measures taken by the new government in Burundi with a view to:

-disarming the groups which are conducting a reign of terror in the towns and countryside,

-re-establishing conditions of safety and protection for individuals and goods throughout Burundi,

-facilitating the return of families which have been forced to leave their villages,

-reforming the military in such a way that the army is unreservedly at the service of the whole nation,

-rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed to pave the way for the resumption of administrative, economic, health, commercial, banking, school and university activities which have virtually come to a halt,

-meeting rapidly the urgent requests from the Burundian authorities for persons competent in the areas referred to above to be sent to the country;

3.Supports the plans of the NGOs for reconstructing the country and facilitating the return, with guarantees, of the refugees and displaced persons to their areas of origin;

4.Reiterates the need to create a standing international criminal tribunal under UN auspices to ensure that aggressors do not go unpunished;

5.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Government of Burundi, the UN Secretary-General and the OAU Secretary-General.