B4-1188, 1189, 1190, 1192, 1193 and 1196/95

Resolution on the situation in former Yugoslavia

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, especially its resolution of 13 July 1995 on Srebrenica ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, item 12.)),

A. whereas the London conference of 22 July 1995 created a new political and military framework aimed at protecting more effectively the safe areas established by the United Nations in Bosnia-Herzegovina,

B. whereas forces under the command of NATO, in agreement with the UN, and the Rapid Reaction Force have since taken action with the aim of enforcing the UN Security Council's resolutions, particularly as regards the withdrawal of the Bosnian Serbs' heavy weapons from a 20 km area around Sarajevo,

C. whereas some of these weapons have now been withdrawn or placed under UN control and access to the city of Sarajevo by road appears to be more or less ensured for the moment; whereas, in these circumstances, military action has been suspended pending the complete withdrawal of the weapons concerned,

D. having regard to the leading role played by the USA in taking diplomatic initiatives following the Council's failure to take effective action,

E. greatly concerned by the helpless situation of thousands of refugees, who are the innocent victims of this war, expelled by armed Croats, Bosnians and Serbs, and having regard to the alarming reports about lootings of Croatian- Serbian properties and attacks on the Croatian-Serbian civilian population in Krajina by Croatian forces,

F. whereas the European Union cannot remain neutral in this conflict and should defend the principles and values on which its very structure is based by means of a political solution aimed at the restoration of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society on the whole of the territory of the former Yugoslavia,

G. having regard to the agreement reached at Geneva on 8 September 1995 between the Foreign Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia,

H. having regard to the initial agreement between Greece and FYROM reached in New York on 13 September 1995,

I. having regard to the initiative taken by the Council for a reconstruction plan in the former Yugoslavia,

1. Supports the action that had to be taken to enforce UN Security Council resolutions concerning the Sarajevo exclusion zone and the protection of the UN safe areas, and therefore calls for the withdrawal of all heavy weapons from the exclusion zone around Sarajevo and for the permanent opening up of the air and land routes to the city; is aware of the regrettable need to continue the pressure of NATO forces until there is full compliance with the UN Security Council resolutions;

2. Insists on the need for the earliest possible mutual and explicit recognition of the internationally recognized frontiers of Croatia, Bosnia- Herzegovina and Serbia, as part of the peace process;

3. Calls on the Governments of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia to refrain from any actions that may cause a further increase in the number of refugees from and displaced persons on the territory of the former Yugoslavia; calls on them in particular to guarantee the protection of the inhabitants of the town of Banja Luka and to prevent a new exodus of Bosnian Serbs from that region;

4. Notes with interest that negotiations among all the parties concerned have led to a preliminary agreement that may bring peace to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and calls on the European Union to follow closely developments in this regard;

5. Is convinced that the work of the International Tribunal on War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia should be adequately supported;

6. Insists that all the EU Member States, the Russian Federation and the other members of the UN Security Council be fully involved in the implementation of the peace proposals and contribute to the reconstruction of the whole of Bosnia-Herzegovina;

7. Insists furthermore that special attention be given to the restoration of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society in Bosnia- Herzegovina and to the establishment of a system of democratic government and respect for human rights; therefore insists that all refugees be given the right and the possibility to return to their places of origin;

8. Urges the Croatian and Serb Governments to refrain from the use of force to settle the question of the control of Eastern Slavonia;

9. Insists that the Croatian Government must allow all Serbs driven from places in Croatia where Serbs have lived for generations to return safely to their homes if they wish to do so, and believes that the implementation of the PHARE programme in Croatia should be made conditional on this;

10. Insists that the Belgrade government should not send Serbian refugees to Kosovo and Vojvodina in an attempt to reshape the ethnic composition of these two provinces;

11. Supports the Council proposal of a reconstruction plan for the former Yugoslavia, but asks that it be directed only to those governments which respect the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and cooperate with its measures, and insists that the encouragement of the repatriation of refugees, concrete measures of confidence-building, inter-ethnic dialogue and multi-cultural coexistence be integral parts of this plan;

12. Welcomes the fact that, through the mediation of the United States, an initial agreement has finally been signed by FYROM and Greece, which is a sign of the willingness to contribute to the stability of the region, and hopes that all the remaining problems may be resolved in the present climate of collaboration and in good faith;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and NATO, the Governments of the United States and the Russian Federation and the Governments of all the countries of the former Yugoslavia.