B4-0313, 0377, 0378, 0379, 0380 and 0382/98

Resolution on the situation in Kosovo

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the former Yugoslavia and on Kosovo and its recommendation of 29 February 1996 on the need for an early settlement of the dispute on the future of Kosovo ((OJ C 78, 18.3.1996, p. 15.)),

- having regard to the outcome of the meeting in London of the Contact Group for the former Yugoslavia on 9 March 1998,

A. expressing its great concern at the escalating violence in Kosovo over the past few days,

B. aware that the suppression of the cultural and political autonomy of Kosovo by the Serbian authorities in 1989 is at the root of the crisis in the region and regretting that even the rather weak agreement on education of 1996 has not been implemented by the Serbian authorities,

C. deploring the massive and aggressive action by the Serbian police against peaceful demonstrations and civilians which has caused the deaths of many people, and noting with abhorrence that many women and children have become the victims of action by the Serbian forces of law and order; at the same time deeply regretting that some extremist groups amongst the Albanian population of Kosovo have resorted to violence to achieve their political goals,

D. emphasizing that any solution to the deepening crisis in Kosovo must be found by peaceful means and be based on full respect for basic human rights and the rule of law,

E. convinced that a political solution to the crisis in Kosovo must be found on the basis of granting cultural and political autonomy to the - mainly Albanian - population of the region without changing European boundaries,

F. emphasizing that an increase in violations of basic human rights and the escalating violence in Kosovo cannot be considered as an internal matter for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and that the European Union has the right and the duty to make an active contribution to bringing an end to this situation,

G. noting furthermore with great concern that the crisis in Kosovo poses an imminent threat to stability in the whole region and a clear threat to international peace and security,

H. noting that the Council has approved the opening of an EU office in Pristina and that the implementation of this decision, as well as the return of the long-term OSCE mission to Kosovo, could play an important role in developments in the region,

I. whereas acknowledged prisoners of conscience have been jailed repeatedly following unfair trials for having exercised their right to freedom of speech and opinion,

1. Condemns the massive and aggressive action by the Serbian police against peaceful demonstrations and civilians, which has caused the deaths of many people, including many women and children who were the victims of action by the Serbian forces of law and order;

2. Strongly and unreservedly condemns the use of violence of any sort and by any group purporting to bring about a solution to the political crisis in Kosovo and urges all parties involved in this crisis to exercise restraint and to refrain from further violence;

3. Calls on the UN, EU, OSCE, NATO and WEU to make preparations for the dispatch of a preventive deployment force to the region;

4. Urges the United Nations to reverse the plans to withdraw the UNPREDEP force from FYROM;

5. Urges the Belgrade authorities to allow immediately humanitarian organizations, journalists and international observers to go to the places where the incidents occurred and make a full investigation of the events, possibly leading to action by the International Tribunal for War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia in The Hague;

6. Calls on the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and on the representatives of the Albanian Kosovar population to start as a matter of urgency and without any preconditions a full and constructive dialogue and negotiations on the future of Kosovo in order to achieve cultural and political autonomy without changing European boundaries;

7. Calls on the Council of the European Union and its Presidency to continue and step up, in cooperation with the OSCE and others, their efforts to make an active contribution to resolving the crisis in this region by peaceful means; urges the Council, therefore, to decide on a Joint Action on the basis of Article J.3 of the EU Treaty;

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 based on full respect for basic human rights and the rule of law for the whole population of Kosovo;

9. Calls on President Milosevic to react constructively in the near future to the requests made by the Contact Group so as to avoid the need for further and more coercive steps by the international community;

10. Gives its full support to all groups and individuals, whilst emphasizing the special role played by students, within and outside Kosovo who are seriously engaged in finding a constructive solution to the future of Kosovo and its people and who strive to achieve these goals by peaceful political means;

11. Urges the Member States to provide refugees with the necessary emergency aid, to grant visas and hospitality to people fleeing the conflict area and to refrain from sudden expulsions that could endanger their lives;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the OSCE, the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the representatives of the Albanian Kosovar population.