Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-05-15-Speech-4-130"
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"en.20030515.7.4-130"2
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". – Mr President, I thank you for these well-informed statements, which demonstrate the European Parliament's commitment to protecting human rights and fighting to secure peace in the Congo.
Mr Khanbhai expressed very well what this is all about on the ground, and also the frustration that we all feel about not being able to move from words to deeds fast enough so as to be able to stop all the violence that is taking place.
The Commission is extremely concerned about the continuing violation of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Ituri and the east of the country. We welcome the attention Parliament is drawing to this situation in its resolution this afternoon.
It is clear that thousands have lost their lives in the past eight months in Bunia and the surrounding Ituri province in fierce inter-ethnic fighting. Over the past few days, there have been reports that up to 30 000 people have gone into hiding following further executions and massacres in Bunia. We share the concerns expressed by the United Nations Secretary-General about the danger that the situation might spin out of control. The Commission supports the work of the Ituri Pacification Commission and has been actively trying to bring the parties together.
The withdrawal of foreign troops from the region is, in principle, to be welcomed, but it is clear that the recent withdrawal of Ugandan troops from the area of Bunia has led to a dangerous power vacuum for the moment.
The UN peacekeeping force in the Congo is gradually reinforcing its presence in Bunia, but it is clear that currently it has neither the mandate nor the military resources to provide security for the civilian population. What security means and what it often takes to ensure security should not, as many of you have said, be underestimated. We would welcome the deployment of additional peacekeeping troops in Ituri. There are undoubtedly links between efforts to secure peace in the eastern Congo and the current efforts in Kinshasa to form a transitional government for a reunited and peaceful country.
Long-term peace and stability for eastern Congo will depend in large measure on the success of this transition. The Commission, in its assistance programme, is fully involved in these efforts, whether through humanitarian or development funds. It is essential for all parties to the conflict to protect human rights and to respect international humanitarian law in the areas under their control. It is also necessary to end the impunity of those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, given that the Democratic Republic of Congo is a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Finally, the Commission appreciates the reference to ECHO's work and will of course pursue its humanitarian efforts."@en1
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