B4-0392, 0398, 0399, 0401, 0402, 0410 and 0425/95

Resolution on the situation in Burundi

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the Council statement of 28 February 1995 on the situation in Burundi,

- having regard to the report tabled by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly on a mission to Burundi, Zaire and Rwanda,

-mindful of its earlier resolutions on Burundi,

A.concerned at the prolonged unrest in Burundi and the critical situation which exists in certain parts of the country,

B.deeply concerned by the steadily worsening security conditions characterized by the fact that throughout the country acts of terrorism, murder, massacres and the destruction of property are on the increase,

C.recognizing the legitimacy of the country's democratic political institutions and procedures defined according to the "Convention of Government" by twelve of the nation's thirteen established political parties,

D.whereas following the resignation of Prime Minister Anatole Kanyenkkiko, who has been disowned by his former colleagues in the opposition movement, and his replacement by Mr Antoine Nduwayo, political and ethnic tensions have increased,

E.particularly concerned at the assassination of the Minister for Energy and Mining, Mr Ernest Kabushemege, in a fresh escalation of violence aimed at destabilization,

F.alarmed by the very large numbers of displaced and dispersed persons within Burundi, forced to flee their homes as a result of the conflict, in particular since the coup of October 1993, and bearing in mind the strong destabilizing influence resulting from the genocide in Rwanda and the presence in Burundi of several thousands of Rwandan refugees,

G.having regard to the threat posed by soldiers of the former Rwandan government army, which is still active in the border areas around Burundi and which has provided arms and ammunition to extremist forces operating within Burundi,

H.aware of the significant contribution made by the European Union in terms of humanitarian aid, but regretting the fact that the international community, and in particular the European Union, has confined itself to recommending the implementation of measures to prevent the outbreak of a renewed internal conflict in Burundi,

1.Notes the Council statement to Parliament of 28 February 1995 and urges the Council to pursue its efforts more actively in order to encourage support for the democratic institutions of Burundi and for national reconciliation;

2.Reaffirms its support for the legitimate institutions and democratic forces which, in spite of provocation from extremists, continue their work towards national reconciliation and the economic reconstruction of the country;

3.Calls on the Council to launch an emergency action plan to isolate both Tutsi and Hutu extremists, to consolidate the democratic institutions and to enable the machinery of justice to function and calls on the European Union to provide technical support should this be requested by the Burundi authorities;

4.Calls on the United Nations Security Council to act on the request by the Burundian Government for an international judicial committee of inquiry to be set up as a matter of urgency to help the country identify and prosecute those responsible for the coup d'état in October 1993 and for the subsequent acts of violence;

5.Calls on the Commission to accelerate the disbursement of funds for the programmes which provide for the repatriation and rehabilitation of displaced persons, it being understood that the political conditions for their repatriation must be assured and their security guaranteed;

6.Condemns the provocative acts of violence undertaken by extremist groups, the leaders of which have frequently been identified, and calls on the international community to refuse visas to those who are known to be linked with extremist activities;

7.Calls on the government and the military authorities in Burundi, in the context of a national debate, to reform the structures of the armed forces so as to allow the military command to respond better to the directives of the civil authority and to pressures resulting from the extremist terrorist activity within the country, including arms smuggling;

8.Reiterates its full confidence in the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and fully supports the efforts of the OAU observer mission in Burundi, which is acting in order to prevent conflict, and calls on the Council to help set up a UN radio station;

9.Reiterates its call for the European Union Member States represented on the UN Security Council to bring before the latter the question of the need for an international embargo on arms and munitions exports to Burundi and Rwanda and for the Member States to end all arms and munitions exports to those countries;

10.Congratulates the International Committee of the Red Cross for its efforts, alongside other NGOs, in operating locally based conflict prevention programmes;

11.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, the President of the Republic of Burundi and the International Red Cross Committee.