9. Human rights
(a) B4-0825, 0832, 0850, 0856, 0863, 0877 and 0890/97
Resolution on the United Nations international mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo dealing with human rights violations
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the report by the Luxembourg Presidency drawn up following the visit by the troika to the Democratic Republic of Congo,
- having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 15 September 1997,
A. having regard to allegations, eye-witness accounts and reports that massacres of innocent civilians were committed by the AFDLCZ forces during the military offensive in recent months in Eastern Zaire,
B. whereas the UN Human Rights team, despatched to Kinshasa on 24 August 1997 to investigate alleged massacres of refugees, was effectively prevented by the government from carrying out its mission and had to be recalled to UN headquarters on 3 October 1997 for consultations,
C. whereas an escalation of the current confrontation with the UN will lead to the isolation of the Democratic Republic of Congo under its new leadership and threatens to jeopardize the reconstruction the country needs,
D. whereas it is the European Union's duty to assist this reconstruction, but whereas European cooperation with Congo, both politically and economically, can be provided only on the basis of respect for international law and human rights,
E. whereas, reacting to the forced repatriations by local authorities, UNHCR and a number of NGOs decided to suspend their operations in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, following which they were made to leave the country,
1. Deplores the total lack of cooperation from the Congolese government and expresses its grave concern about the withdrawal of the UN investigative team from the Democratic Republic of Congo;
2. Stresses that United Nations provisions must be implemented and appeals to President Kabila to cooperate fully with the UN Human Rights mission and to allow it full and unconditional access to the interior of the country;
3. Takes the view that the successful completion of the UN investigation is an essential prerequisite for any resumption of cooperation with the Democratic Republic of Congo;
4. Considers that European cooperation with the new Congolese authorities is essential to assist the democratization and development of a country which needs to recover from dictatorship and war, but in the meantime stresses that respect for human rights, for democratic institutions and for international law and the non-expulsion of refugees are prerequisites for the implementation of such cooperation;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the OAU, the UN Secretary-General and the UN Security Council.
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