B4-0560, 0562, 0563, 0564 and 0565/98

Resolution on Kosovo

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Kosovo, especially that of 12 March 1998 ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 5.)),

- having regard to the outcome of the meetings of the Contact Group for the former Yugoslavia on 25 March 1998 in Bonn and on 29 April 1998 in Rome,

- having regard to the decisions taken at the meeting of the foreign and finance ministers of the G7 in London on 9 and 10 May 1998,

A. expressing its deepest concern about the conflict in Kosovo, which has already escalated into a low-level war, and the continuing increase in violence in that region, the systematic violations of human rights, ethnic discrimination, arbitrary police action and torture by the Serb authorities,

B. extremely worried by the excessive use of force by the Yugoslav security forces, the proliferation of arms in the territory and the use of terrorist actions by some extremist groups in Kosovo; emphasizing that the use of violence to suppress political dissent as well as the use of terrorist actions to achieve political change should be absolutely rejected as a way of bringing about a solution to the crisis in Kosovo,

C. emphasizing that a lasting solution to the deepening crisis in Kosovo can only be achieved by peaceful means through the opening of a meaningful and unconditional dialogue, with international involvement, between the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the leadership of the Kosovo Albanian population and must be based on full respect for basic human rights, the protection of all individuals and ethnic groups and the rule of law,

D. whereas the conflict in Kosovo risks spreading to surrounding areas, and whereas the Albanian Prime Minister has called for the presence of a NATO force within his country to reduce the possibility of the crisis in Kosovo escalating,

E. pointing out that international response to the crisis to date has been both slow and weak, but noting that the Contact Group for the former Yugoslavia has decided to take certain measures against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, because a number of basic requirements for solving the crisis in Kosovo have not been met by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and deploring the Russian Federation's failure to associate itself with these measures,

F. whereas clear recognition should be given to the openness shown by the government of Montenegro,

G. noting with great concern that the further escalation of the crisis in Kosovo and the concentration of troops at the Albanian border pose a serious and immediate threat to stability in the whole region and a clear threat to international peace and stability,

H. whereas evidence suggests that war crimes have been committed by Serbian police and paramilitaries in Kosovo during the fighting over the last months, and whereas the International Tribunal for War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia has the power to prosecute individuals who have committed violations of international humanitarian law on 'the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991",

1. Strongly and unreservedly condemns the use of force against the unarmed civilian population by the Yugoslav forces and the proliferation of arms in the territory;

2. Strongly condemns the use of terrorist actions by some extremist groups in Kosovo;

3. Calls on the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and on the representatives of the Kosovo Albanian population to start as a matter of urgency and without any preconditions a meaningful and constructive dialogue, with international involvement, on the future status of Kosovo;

4. Calls on the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to start cooperating as a matter of urgency with the Contact Group for the former Yugoslavia and to allow immediately the special representative of the European Union, Mr González, to start his work, which is essential for improving the general prospects of, and progress in, the dialogue;

5. Calls on the Council to make every effort to launch a strong political initiative with the aim of opening up negotiations between the parties, and to:

- issue an invitation to both parties to meet at a place outside the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and

- suggest further confidence-building measures;

6. Calls on the Member States, the UN Security Council, the OSCE, NATO and the WEU to take all the necessary measures to prevent the conflict in Kosovo spilling over into other parts of the region, to support the security interests of the neighbouring states and to secure their borders;

7. Requests the Council and the Commission, but also the OSCE and the UN, immediately to send observers also to the border between Albania and Kosovo;

8. Supports the decisions taken by the Contact Group for the former Yugoslavia as a first step in increasing pressure on President Milosevic and the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to find a peaceful and constructive solution to the deepening crisis in Kosovo;

9. Calls on the Council to make clear to the Yugoslav authorities that new sanctions will be introduced if they do not make rapid and constructive efforts to find a solution to the future status of Kosovo and to restore civil and human rights for its population;

10. Demands the immediate release of the political prisoners and innocent detainees from Kosovo who are held in Yugoslav prisons, such as Professor Ukshin Hoti, who has been repeatedly imprisoned simply because he pleaded for a peaceful negotiated solution to the Kosovo problem;

11. Gives its full support to all groups and individuals within and outside Kosovo who are seriously involved in seeking a constructive solution to the future of Kosovo and its people and who strive to achieve these goals by peaceful means;

12. Calls on the International Tribunal for War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia to investigate possible crimes against humanity in Kosovo without delay;

13. Urges the Council and the Commission to use every available means to bring pressure to bear so that the EU office in Pristina which Parliament has called for and the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights may finally be opened;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Mr Ibrahim Rugova.