B5-0902, 0909, 0914, 0923 and 0929/2000

European Parliament resolution on political prisoners in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and instability on the borders of Kosovo

The European Parliament,

-   having regard to its resolution of 15 June 2000⁽¹⁾ on fundamental rights in Serbia and Kosovo,

-   having regard to its resolutions on the situation of Albanian Kosovar prisoners, in particular its resolution of 17 February 2000⁽²⁾, and its resolution of 30 November 2000 on "Progress in the implementation of the CFSP'⁽³⁾,

-   having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999,

-   having regard to a recent meeting of the European Parliament delegation for relations with South-Eastern Europe with Mrs Flora Brovina in Brussels on 21 November 2000,

-  having regard to the Zagreb Summit Final Declaration of 24 November 2000,

A.  welcoming the release of the Albanian doctor and human rights campaigner Flora Brovina on the orders of the newly elected President Kostunica on 1 November 2000 as well as of the Serbian journalist Miroslav Filipovic on 10 October 2000,

B.  regretting, however, that the fate of all political prisoners in Kosovo who were deprived of their freedom by the Milosevic regime solely because of their ethnicity or political convictions has not yet been resolved by the new democratic forces in Yugoslavia and that since the readmission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the UN, the OSCE and Europe, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has not set a date for the release of the prisoners or provided details of an amnesty law,

C.  underlining that the presidential elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have paved the way for the rule of law in the country and that President Kostunica has promised that he will apply the Constitution and the law without delay,

D.  recalling that the political changes underway in Belgrade cannot exonerate the former Yugoslav leaders, in particular Mr Slobodan Milosevic, from their charges before the International Criminal Tribunal for crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia,

E.  expressing its concern about the latest armed attacks by ethnic Albanians and other extremists in the Presevo area of South-Eastern Serbia along the border between Kosovo and Serbia which could have the effect of destabilising the situation just at a time when there are good chances of resolving problems in the region through peaceful talks,

F.  having regard to the agreement reached last year between NATO and Yugoslavia which makes this zone off-limits to security forces from both sides, with the exception of lightly armed Serbian policemen,

1.  Calls on President Kostunica to take all possible steps to secure the release of all political prisoners from the Milosevic era who are still detained in Serbian prisons;

2.  Points out that it will damage the political credibility of the new President if political prisoners of the Milosevic regime remain political prisoners under the new leadership and therefore urges that a dignified solution be found for the new democracy in Serbia and firmly believes that all political prisoners should be released by presidential pardon or on the basis of an amnesty law currently being drafted by the Yugoslav Ministry of Justice, while the Albanian Kosovar political prisoners could be handed over to UNMIK, taking into account UN Security Council Resolution 1244;

3.  Calls on both sides - the Albanian Kosovars and the new leadership in Belgrade - to investigate the fate of missing persons, both Albanian Kosovars and Serbs, who disappeared before, during and after the Kosovo conflict and by so doing to re-establish a basis of confidence between the two groups as a vital condition for peaceful development in Kosovo;

4.  Strongly condemns the recent violence in Kosovo and in the bordering areas of Presevo and calls on all parties concerned not to increase tensions in the security zone between Kosovo and Serbia at a time when, after the election of President Kostunica, there are real chances of reaching a peaceful and sustainable agreement between Serbs and Kosovars which could resolve a protracted conflict;

5.  Calls upon the multinational KFOR peacekeeping force in Kosovo to reinforce control on the border with Serbia so as to prevent further incursions by ethnic Albanian extremists;

6.  Calls on the UN, the Council and the Commission to establish the political conditions for the start of a positive and constructive dialogue between the Yugoslav Federal Government and the political leaders in Kosovo;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, President Kostunica and UNMIK.