21, November 2002

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the agreement reached in Machakos, Kenya on 20 July 2002, and the ceasefire memorandum of 15 October,
- having regard to the statement by the Presidency of the European Union of 14 November 2002,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights abuses and the situation in Sudan,

A.  deeply concerned by the continuing civil war, which has been raging in Sudan for more than 19 years, killing more than 2 million people and causing immense human suffering, particularly among civilians, as well as gross human rights violations by all parties involved in the conflict, massive displacement and a breakdown of economic and social structures,
B.  pointing out the urgent need for a just and durable peace settlement, and welcoming in this context the recent progress made at the IGAD-sponsored peace talks in Machakos, Kenya,
C.  welcoming in particular the signing on 15 October by the Government of Sudan and the SPLA of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cessation of Hostilities, which commits both parties to unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas and to all people in need; deploring, however, that both sides have already accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement,
D.  whereas this is the first occasion on which the SPLA/SPLM has signed an agreement on the cessation of hostilities,
E.  having regard to the agreement between the government, the SPLA and the United Nations on a programme for the disposal of mines and unexploded ordnance,
F.  whereas priority should be given to the IGAD-sponsored process,
G.  mindful of the government's pledge to respect and promote human rights and the rule of law and thus to embark upon a process of democratisation which should result in the establishment of a democratically elected executive and legislature,
H.  whereas the 1997 constitution recognises the right of the southern provinces to self-determination, 
I.  mindful of the extremely valuable potential contribution of oil production to the country's economic development, but deploring the fact that oil revenues have so far only exacerbated the war by fuelling the Government's military expenditure,
J.  whereas several European oil companies are involved in the extraction business despite human rights abuses by both belligerents and the continued suffering of the civilian population,
K.  horrified by the widespread and indiscriminate aerial bombardments by government forces, which have continued even subsequent to the Machakos agreement and seriously and repeatedly affect the civilian population in southern Sudan,
L.  deploring the continuing violations of human rights, in particular the restrictions on freedom of religion, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, imposed under national security laws,
M.  deploring the recent passing of at least 200 death sentences by unconstitutional emergency courts in Darfur State,
N.  whereas in recent months the Sudanese Government has on several occasions banned humanitarian flights, particularly flights organised by the UN World Food Programme,
O.  welcoming the progress achieved in some areas by the EU-Sudan political dialogue, particularly the improved relations between Sudan and its neighbours and the removal of any suspicion that the country is supporting international terrorism,
P.  whereas EU development aid to Sudan has been frozen since March 1990, but on 21-22 November the EDF Committee will discuss the Country Strategy Paper for Sudan, which represents a major step towards the normalisation of EU relations with this country,
Q.  whereas the resumption of European Union aid must remain conditional upon progress as regards respect for human rights, political and religious freedoms and the rule of law,
R.  whereas no meetings of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly may be held in a country whose cooperation agreement with the European Union has been suspended,

1.  Fully supports the IGAD-sponsored peace talks in Machakos, Kenya, and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cessation of Hostilities signed on 15 October, and calls on both parties to fulfil their obligations immediately and thus cease all armed action, particularly against the civilian population, with a view to facilitating the implementation of humanitarian assistance programmes and to reaching a negotiated and lasting solution to the conflict;
2.  Welcomes the willingness shown by donors to step up financial aid for the peace process and humanitarian assistance;
3.  Calls on the Sudanese Government to put an end to aerial bombardments of civilian targets and abuses committed by the army and paramilitary militia against the civilian population; calls for an end to measures aimed at deporting people living in oil-producing areas and for the government to allow the displaced communities, particularly the Nuer and Dinka peoples, to return;
4.  Calls for the OECD code of conduct to be scrupulously observed by all oil companies operating in the country;
5.  Calls on the Commission to provide it with a report on the possible involvement of European oil companies in abuses committed against local communities in oil-producing areas;
6.  Condemns the continued serious human rights violations by all parties to the conflict in southern Sudan an urges all parties to stop atrocities such as enslavement, child abuse, torture, rape, killings and other abuses;
7.  Calls on the Government of Sudan rapidly to relax the restrictions on the freedom of religion, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and to take more effective action against torture, discrimination against Christians and abductions (which particularly affect women and children);
8.  Calls on the government and the SPLA to ensure compliance with the ban on female genital mutilation;
9.  Calls for the immediate abolition of the unconstitutional emergency courts in Darfur State and for the commutation of all the death sentences passed by these courts, in compliance with international human rights laws;
10.  Notes that while some improvement has been made in the areas currently covered by the EU-Sudan political dialogue - notably human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance - the situation regarding all of these remains profoundly unsatisfactory;
11.  Welcomes the progress made in the dialogue between Sudan and the European Union and hopes that all the requirements for a resumption of normal relations under the terms of the Cotonou Agreement will be met at the earliest opportunity;
12.  Calls on the Commission considerably to increase staffing levels at the European Union delegation in Khartoum with a view to the additional tasks that will be assigned to the European Union;
13.  Notes the willingness of the Sudanese authorities to invite the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly to hold its plenary session in their country and expects a final peace agreement to be concluded and the other requirements for a resumption of cooperation with the European Union to be met, in accordance with the Cotonou Agreement;
14.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council and Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the Commission, the secretaries-general of the United Nations and the African Union, the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement.