Plenary sitting
22.11.2017
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
on the situation in Yemen
( 2017/2849(RSP) )
Harald Vilimsky
on behalf of the ENF Group
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Yemen
( 2017/2849(RSP) )
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the statement of 14 November 2017 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the situation in Yemen,
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi Government in Yemen has reached a new level of aggression; whereas this conflict acts as a proxy war, the consequences of which are devastating for the country and its population; whereas, in spite of the international calls for a political solution to the crisis, the parties to the conflict have failed to reach a settlement and the fighting continues; whereas the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has pointed out the surprisingly low level of international interest in the conflict in Yemen;
B. whereas the Arab Coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, did not make any attempt to solve the conflict in a diplomatic way, but has instead intensified the conflict with air strikes and other acts of aggression on Yemeni soil; whereas domestic political conflicts in Saudi Arabia could lead to more military aggression against Yemen; whereas there is strong suspicion that the Arab Coalition has cooperated with terrorist organisations, such as Al-Qaida and Daesh in Yemen;
C. whereas, according to the reports of international observers, the humanitarian situation is considered very serious, and which is particularly exacerbated by the Saudi blockade of Yemeni ports; whereas imports account for almost 90 % of the country’s staple foods; whereas, according to the International Red Cross Committee and the United Nations, these blockades represent a prime factor that could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, involving the starvation of around 27 million people;
D. whereas, according to United Nations reports, there are over two million internally displaced people/refugees on Yemeni soil; whereas the impending escalation of the conflict and the worsening of the humanitarian situation could lead to another wave of mass migration, which could also have an effect on Europe;
E. whereas the Arab Coalition deliberately bombed civilian facilities 38 times, including schools and hospitals; whereas the situation of civilians in Yemen, especially that of children, has worsened since the beginning of the crisis; whereas the United Nations has criticised the Arab Coalition for being responsible for the deaths of 638 children;
F. whereas weapons from European countries are still being exported to Saudi Arabia, and whereas it is suspected that they are being deployed in the conflict in Yemen; whereas, in its resolution of 13 September 2017 on arms export: implementation of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP[1], Parliament called for the stopping of all exports of weapons or military technologies to conflict areas; whereas the United Nations Security Council imposed a weapons embargo on the Houthi militias;
1. Considers that the conflict in Yemen must be solved in a diplomatic way as soon as possible, especially in the interests of the civilian population in Yemen; calls on all parties, especially Saudi Arabia, to end all military aggression in Yemen and to propose an immediate ceasefire followed by peace negotiations; condemns any attempt to extend the conflict to other regions or countries;
2. Strongly condemns the recent airstrikes led by Saudi Arabia on Yemeni soil; condemns any cooperation with terrorist organisations such as Al-Qaida or Daesh during the conflict; suggests that the United Nations draw up an accurate report on the military relations between the military leadership of Saudi Arabia and terrorist organisations in Yemen;
3. Is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Yemen, which is mostly caused by the blockade politics of Saudi Arabia and its allies as well as by airstrikes on the country’s infrastructure; calls on Saudi Arabia to immediately end the blockades of Yemeni ports in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe; is concerned about the escalation of the conflict that could lead to another wave of mass migration, which would also have an effect on European countries;
4. Stresses that the Arab Coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, has deliberately attacked civilian facilities, in which there were children; heavily criticises all military aggression against civilians, especially children; condemns all attacks on civilian facilities, such as hospitals and schools, and urges all parties to the conflict to end these kinds of strikes; calls on the United Nations to exclude Saudi Arabia from the Human Rights Council;
5. Stresses that Saudi Arabia still imports weapons and military technologies from EU countries, which are suspected of being used in the conflict in Yemen; suggests that the United Nations should impose a weapons embargo on Saudi Arabia;
6. 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, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and the Government of Yemen.