MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Iraq

The European Parliament,

–       having regard to its previous resolutions on Iraq,

–       having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Iraq, of the other part,

–       having regard to the Local EU Statement in Iraq of 10 December 2013 on the occasion of International Human Rights Day,

–       having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Iraq, in particular those of 10 February 2014,

–       having regard to the statements by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), Catherine Ashton, on Iraq, in particular those of 5 February 2014, 16 January 2014 and 18 December 2013,

–       having regard to the statement by the spokesperson for the VP/HR of 28 December 2013 on the killing of residents at Camp Hurriya,

–       having regard to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Presidential Statement on Iraq of 10 January 2014,

–       having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

–       having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, to which Iraq is a party,

–       having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.     whereas on 10 January 2014 the UNSC condemned the attacks being perpetrated by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against the people of Iraq in an attempt to destabilise the country and the region, and recognised that Iraqi security forces, local police and tribes in Anbar province are showing great courage as they fight to defeat the ISIL in their cities;

B.     whereas according to casualty figures released by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on 1 February 2014, a total of 733 Iraqis were killed and another 1 229 wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in January 2014; whereas the figures for January 2014 do not include casualties resulting from the ongoing fighting in Anbar province, owing to problems with verification and with ascertaining the status of those killed or injured;

C.     whereas on 5 February 2014 the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad was attacked, and whereas on 10 February 2014 the convoy of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Osama al-Nujaifi, was attacked in the city of Mosul in Ninawa province;

D.     whereas on 13 February 2014 more than 63 000 families affected by the fighting in Anbar province were registered as internally displaced; whereas many have fled to other parts of the country, including Karbala, Baghdad and Erbil provinces, while others have sought safety in outlying communities in Anbar province or are unable to flee the fighting; whereas their condition remains precarious, with food stocks and potable water running low, poor sanitation and limited access to health care;

E.     whereas the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, stated on 13 February 2014 that since the first days of January 2014 the UN has continued to work with the government and local authorities to provide aid to those affected by the fighting in Anbar province, and expressed concerns about the rapidly deteriorating conditions in Fallujah, where many residents are caught up in the fighting; whereas the UN continues to urge humanitarian access to the city;

F.     whereas Iraq continues to face substantial security challenges from armed groups which promote violence and seek to divide people; whereas internal political divisions and sectarian tensions have also significantly contributed to the deterioration of the security situation inside Iraq;

G.     whereas on 25 December 2013 at least 35 people were killed and dozens more wounded in bomb attacks in Christian areas of Baghdad; whereas the Christian community in Iraq has suffered deliberate and senseless targeting by terrorists for many years; whereas since 2003 at least half of Iraq’s Christians are believed to have left the country;

H.     whereas on 10 October 2013 UNAMI noted with concern that 42 people sentenced to death had been executed on 8 and 9 October 2013, as confirmed by the Iraqi Ministry of Justice;

I.      whereas the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Iraq in its transition to democracy, recalling that the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq are essential elements in building a secure and prosperous state for all its citizens and bringing stability to the whole region;

J.      whereas the Cooperation Council between the EU and the Republic of Iraq held its first meeting in Brussels on 20 January 2014; whereas the Cooperation Council, which is meeting within the framework of the EU-Iraq PCA, reaffirmed the commitment of both parties to continue strengthening their relations; whereas the EU will continue to advance cooperation in all fields of mutual interest, providing targeted assistance in jointly agreed areas;

1.      Strongly condemns the ISIL attacks in Anbar province; acknowledges the efforts of the Iraqi security forces and Iraqi local police, whose members are also being targeted and killed in attacks by terrorists; supports the call by the UNSC on the people of Iraq, including Iraqi tribes, local leaders, and Iraqi security forces in Anbar province, to continue, expand and strengthen their cooperation in combating violence and terror; stresses that the ISIL is subject to the arms embargo and assets freeze imposed by UNSC resolutions 1267 (1999) and 2083 (2012) and underlines the importance of prompt and effective implementation of those measures;

2.      Is deeply concerned about the developments in Anbar province and the large numbers of internally displaced persons fleeing the conflict zones; calls for humanitarian access to Fallujah; welcomes the commitment of the Government of Iraq to the protection of the civilian population in Fallujah and elsewhere and to the provision of humanitarian relief; encourages the Government of Iraq to continue working with UNAMI and humanitarian agencies to ensure the delivery of humanitarian relief; welcomes the UN’s efforts to provide aid to those affected by the fighting in Anbar province, despite the challenges posed by the deteriorating security environment and ongoing operations in the province; calls for the safe passage of civilians trapped in conflict areas and the safe return of internally displaced persons as conditions allow;

3.      Strongly condemns all acts of terrorism, including the latest series of bomb attacks, and sectarian violence in Iraq; is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the country, the increased terrorist threat facing Iraq and the marked increase in violence; recognises the negative repercussions of the Syrian conflict on security in Iraq; extends its condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and injured;

4.      Is deeply concerned about the continuing acts of violence perpetrated against the civilian population, vulnerable groups and religious communities, including Christians; urges the Iraqi authorities to combat terrorism and sectarian violence, to protect the civilian population from further violence, to protect vulnerable groups, to protect religious communities, including Christians, to improve security and public order, and to do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators, organisers, financers and sponsors of all acts of violence and terrorism to justice; urges all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and the relevant UNSC resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Iraqi authorities in this regard; welcomes the support expressed by the EU to the Iraqi authorities in the fight against terrorism, and the fact that the EU is ready to cooperate with Iraq on a comprehensive response to this global threat, in compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law; takes positive note of the decision by Iraq’s Council of Ministers of 21 January 2014 to prepare a study on the establishment of a province on the Ninawa Plain, which has the largest population of Christians in Iraq;

5.      Urges political and religious leaders in Iraq to engage in dialogue and to speak out against sectarianism and violence; calls on the Government of Iraq to reinforce the rule of law and take decisive measures to promote inclusiveness and advance reconciliation; supports the EU’s efforts to assist Iraq in promoting democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law, including by building on the experiences and achievements of the EUJUST LEX-Iraq mission, along with the efforts of UNAMI and of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to assist the Government of Iraq in strengthening its democratic institutions and processes, promoting the rule of law, facilitating regional dialogue, improving the provision of basic services and ensuring the protection of human rights; welcomes the capacity-building programme launched on 22 January 2014, funded by the EU and implemented by the UN Office for Project Services, to support the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights in implementing its mandate to promote and protect human rights in Iraq;

6.      Welcomes the World Interfaith Harmony Week that took place from 1 to 7 February 2014 in Iraq; supports this annual event promoted by the UN, which encourages all states to recognise the importance of dialogue among different faiths and religions;

7.      Is deeply concerned about the high rate of executions in Iraq; calls on the Iraqi authorities to introduce a moratorium on the implementation of all death sentences;

8.      Welcomes the passing of amendments to Iraq’s electoral law on 4 November 2013, which has paved the way for the general elections due to take place on 30 April 2014; underlines the importance of these elections for Iraq’s continued democratic transition; calls on all actors to ensure that they are inclusive, transparent, credible and held on time; welcomes Iraq’s request for support for the elections, and the fact that the EU is evaluating all possible options with a view to assisting Iraq;

9.      Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the PCA, including the successful holding of several expert-level meetings in October and November 2013 and of the first meeting of the EU-Iraq Cooperation Council on 20 January 2014;

10.    Strongly condemns the rocket attack at Camp Hurriya on 26 December 2013, which according to various reports claimed the lives of several camp residents and left people injured; stresses that the circumstances in which this brutal incident took place must be clarified; calls on the Iraqi authorities to step up security measures around the camp so as to protect its residents from any further violence; urges the Iraqi Government to find the perpetrators of the attack and hold them accountable; notes that the EU invites all parties to facilitate the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the relocation of all Camp Hurriya residents to a permanent and safe location outside Iraq as soon as possible;

11.    Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Government and Council of Representatives of Iraq.