B4-1237, 1241, 1256, 1260 and 1274/95

Resolution on the situation in Equatorial Guinea following the recent municipal elections

The European Parliament,

-recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea,

A.whereas Equatorial Guinea is a signatory to the Lomé Convention and should therefore comply with the undertakings laid down in Article 5 thereof,

B.reiterating its firm commitment to contribute to the establishment of the rule of law and democracy in that country,

C.recalling that the Government of Equatorial Guinea has already been responsible for a number of human rights abuses,

D.stressing that it is of great importance for the transition to democracy that the municipal elections of 17 September 1995 should have been held in the necessary conditions of fairness and transparency,

E.having regard to the many irregularities reported during the electoral process, such as:

-the arbitrary exclusion of opposition activists from the electoral register,

-the failure to publish the electoral lists until the actual day of voting,

-the expulsion from polling stations of supervisors appointed by the opposition in many municipalities,

1.Condemns the irregularities committed by the Government and condemned by the opposition, particularly the irregular publication of electoral lists, the obstacles put in the way of the presence of international observers, the failure to comply with safeguards against electoral fraud and the suspension of voting operations in several localities;

2.Welcomes the massive turn-out by the citizens of Equatorial Guinea in these elections, despite the irregularities mentioned above;

3.Notes that the initial electoral results point to the Joint Opposition Alliance (POC), which is providing an excellent example of democratic responsibility, having secured a majority of the votes;

4.Calls on the authorities of Equatorial Guinea to proclaim the results corresponding to the counting records in each of the country's municipalities as the only valid outcome;

5.Stresses the need for the Government of Equatorial Guinea to ensure strict respect for human rights and democratic principles;

6.Calls on the Council and the Commission to urge the Government in Malabo to take action to this end and to exercise suitable vigilance in the framework of cooperation with Equatorial Guinea so as to ensure that all the funds coming under the Union's development cooperation activities are channelled solely into projects aimed directly at improving the living conditions of the most deprived sectors of society in that country, as long as the authorities there continue to pursue their authoritarian policy;

7.Urges the Council to contact President Teodoro Obiang immediately to call on him to respect the election results and comply with the commitments given to the international community;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Human Rights Commission, the Equatorial Guinea Joint Opposition Alliance, the Government of Equatorial Guinea and the Lomé Convention signatory states.