EP resolution rejected on 27 March 2003 (text)

Here is the text of the motion for a European Parliament resolution on Iraq that was rejected on 27 March 2003 :

--- EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 1999 2004 Session document 26 March 2003 B5-0195/2003 B5-0198/2003 B5-0206/2003 RC1 JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION pursuant to Rule 37(4) of the Rules of Procedure by - Enrique Barón Crespo and Jannis Sakellariou on behalf of the PSE Group - Cecilia Malmström on behalf of the ELDR Group - Daniel Marc Cohn-Bendit, Monica Frassoni and Nelly Maes on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group replacing the motions by the following groups: - PSE (B5-0198/2003), - ELDR (B5-0206/2003), - Verts/ALE (B5-0195/2003), on Iraq European Parliament resolution on Iraq The European Parliament, - having regard to its previous resolutions on Iraq and most particularly its resolution adopted on 30 January 2003, - having regard to the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Iraq and in particular Resolutions 661, 678, 686, 687, 778, 986, 1284 and 1441, - having regard to the conclusions of the extraordinary European Council of Brussels of 17 February 2003 and the conclusions of the General and Foreign Affairs Council of 27 January 2003 and the European Council statement on Iraq of 20 March 2003, A. whereas Saddam Hussein's regime has systematically neglected, for a very long time, the clear and serious warnings given by the international community and has violated most of the relevant UN resolutions, B. whereas the war is in opposition to the beliefs of the majority of UN members and of large sectors of the world's public opinion, and whereas this opposition does not mean support for the Iraqi dictatorship, C. whereas with the war on Iraq the American administration is putting into practice a new doctrine on pre-emptive strikes as part of the recent US National Security Strategy, D. whereas the territorial integrity of Iraq and the ownership of Iraq's natural resources by its population are not up for negotiation, 1. Conveys its condolences to the families of all victims of these first days of war and deplores the loss of human life and suffering due to the conflict; 2. Firmly condemns the refusal of the Iraqi regime to disarm itself during these last 12 years from its aggressive capacity and military arsenal, the systematic violations of the most fundamental rights of its citizens and minorities, constituting a serious threat to the security and stability of the region and of the world; 3. Is deeply disappointed at the fact that further attempts were not made to follow the path of peace through to the end in order to avoid this war; deplores, in particular, that the Executive Chairman of Unmovic was not enabled to prolong his inspections, as requested by him, and therefore strongly deplores the unilateral decision by the war coalition; 4. Demands that the UN Security Council remains seized of the matter and asks the UN Secretary General to make every attempt to ensure full compliance with the pertinent UN resolutions; 5. Expresses its concerns about the vulnerability of Iraqi citizens whose humanitarian situation was already precarious, and the situation of citizens in the military services and their families who now carry a burden and special vulnerability; 6. Calls on the Iraqi Government not to use chemical and/or biological weapons; 7. Believes that, particularly in the absence of UN legitimacy, there is a duty on the countries prosecuting this war to do so in a way that is consistent with international norms and conventions and in particular to not use disproportionate force, which might effect heavy civilian casualties and which also have long-lasting and irreversible effects on the environment; 8. Considers that if Turkey interferes militarily in Northern Iraq, it cannot have recourse to the NATO clause for mutual aid; 9. Urges the international community to provide, through the United Nations agencies, the International Red Cross Committee and the specialised NGOs, the necessary humanitarian emergency aid to the Iraqi people; calls for full compliance with the Geneva Conventions by all sides; 10. Demands the immediate return of the UN agencies to Iraq as soon as the security conditions allow and the resumption of the 'Oil for Food' Programme to cover the immediate needs of the Iraqi population, which depends on it; 11. Calls for an international criminal court to be established to prosecute Saddam Hussein and his regime for their crimes against the Iraqi people; 12. Stresses that the Iraqi crisis should not be allowed to succeed in splitting the EU and the good relations between Europe and the USA, and remains convinced that the transatlantic dialogue between the EU and the USA remains essential for finding ways to alleviate major world problems such as poverty and inequality, notably by defending democracy, human rights and the rule of law and relaunching a multilateral approach in international relations; expects the forthcoming EU - USA Summit on 5 June 2003 to make real progress in this regard; 13. Expresses its confidence that the UN will evaluate the needs and damage after the conflict and that the international community, coordinated by the United Nations, will show its commitment to the re-establishment of peace and freedom in Iraq, as well as to work arising from the reconstruction of the country; expects the Council and Commission to consult Parliament before any relevant decision entailing European Union financial assistance for that purpose; 14. Invites the Council, the Member States and the Commission to effectively contribute to the conditions allowing all Iraqis to live in freedom, dignity and prosperity under a representative government that will be at peace with its neighbours and an active member of the international community; considers that this will require uniting the different communities of Iraq, building stable and democratic institutions to secure the future and immediate post-war rehabilitation; 15. Believes that the magnitude of this crisis will prove a turning-point if the EU Member States finally accept the need for a common foreign policy and an EU seat at the UN Security Council, in the framework of global reform of the common foreign and security policy; 16. Consider that to accomplish its aims, the EU needs a real and stronger unity in the field of foreign policy and that its Member States must respect their obligations, under Article 19 of the Treaty, to coordinate their action and defend their common position in the United Nations and other international bodies; 17. Demands a clear commitment by the European Union to act in order to obtain the immediate publication and implementation of the 'roadmap', as endorsed on 20 December 2002 by the Quartet (EU, USA, Russia and the UN), for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; supports an international peace conference; 18. Calls on the UN to pursue discussions on the role and implementation of international law in future disputes; 19. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU Member States' and applicant countries' governments and parliaments, the UN Secretary-General and the Government and Parliament of Iraq. ---

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