The European Parliament adopted by 56 votes to 3, with 4 abstentions, a resolution on Togo.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled as a joint resolution by the EPP-ED, Greens/ALE, GUE/NGL and the UEN groups.

Recalling the outbreak of violence which followed the disputed presidential elections held in Togo on 24 April 2005 (when Faure Gnassingbe, son of Eyadema Gnassingbe, was declared the winner of the elections against Emmanuel Bob-Akitani, the leader of a six-party opposition coalition), Parliament firmly condemns both the brutal repression perpetrated by the police against people disputing the regularity of the elections and the abusive treatment of foreigners.

It also condemns the arson attack which completely destroyed the Goethe Institute in Lomé and invites the Togolese authorities to ensure that all foreign citizens and institutions are properly protected.

Parliament calls on the security forces to stop all abusive and intimidatory acts against the civilian population and for the establishment of an independent fact-finding commission to be responsible for clarifying the abusive acts carried out. Parliament takes the view that the circumstances in which the elections were held did not comply with the principles of transparency, pluralism and the freedom of the people, nor did they comply with the conditions laid down as a precondition for the resumption of cooperation between Togo and the European Union.

It calls on the Togolese authorities to convene a national conference, to be attended by the opposition parties and representatives of civil society, with a view to finding a solution to the crisis and to envisage new presidential and legislative elections worthy of the name. The Commission, the Council and all regional and international institutions are called upon to work for a return to security in this country.

Lastly, Parliament takes the view that the Togolese authorities must assume total responsibility for all acts of violence perpetrated against the physical integrity of civilians and, in particular, against representatives of the Opposition political parties, human rights activists and journalists.

The European Parliament adopted by 56 votes to 3, with 4 abstentions, a resolution on Togo.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled as a joint resolution by the EPP-ED, Greens/ALE, GUE/NGL and the UEN groups.

Recalling the outbreak of violence which followed the disputed presidential elections held in Togo on 24 April 2005 (when Faure Gnassingbe, son of Eyadema Gnassingbe, was declared the winner of the elections against Emmanuel Bob-Akitani, the leader of a six-party opposition coalition), Parliament firmly condemns both the brutal repression perpetrated by the police against people disputing the regularity of the elections and the abusive treatment of foreigners.

It also condemns the arson attack which completely destroyed the Goethe Institute in Lomé and invites the Togolese authorities to ensure that all foreign citizens and institutions are properly protected.

Parliament calls on the security forces to stop all abusive and intimidatory acts against the civilian population and for the establishment of an independent fact-finding commission to be responsible for clarifying the abusive acts carried out. Parliament takes the view that the circumstances in which the elections were held did not comply with the principles of transparency, pluralism and the freedom of the people, nor did they comply with the conditions laid down as a precondition for the resumption of cooperation between Togo and the European Union.

It calls on the Togolese authorities to convene a national conference, to be attended by the opposition parties and representatives of civil society, with a view to finding a solution to the crisis and to envisage new presidential and legislative elections worthy of the name. The Commission, the Council and all regional and international institutions are called upon to work for a return to security in this country.

Lastly, Parliament takes the view that the Togolese authorities must assume total responsibility for all acts of violence perpetrated against the physical integrity of civilians and, in particular, against representatives of the Opposition political parties, human rights activists and journalists.