13. Human rights: Violence between ethnic groups in Mitrovic ´a; Albanian Koso-
var prisoners in Serbia,notably the plight of Mrs Flora Brovina
B5-0141,0150,0158 and 0176/2000
European Parliament resolution on multi-ethnic violence in Mitrovic ´a,the situation of Albanian
Kosovar prisoners in Serbia and,in particular,the case of Flora Brovina
The European Parliament,
.dash having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia,
in particular its resolution of 22 July 1999(1),
.dash having regard to its resolution of 16 September 1999(2) on the detainment of Albanian Kosovar
prisoners in Serbia,
.dash having regard to the UN Security Council resolution of 10 June 1999,
.dash recalling the statement of 13 January 2000 of its Delegation for Relations with South-East Europe on
the sentencing of Ms Flora Brovina in Serbia,
A. deeply concerned by recent events in the Mitrovic ´a region, where, after a rocket-propelled grenade
was fired at a KFOR-escorted UNHCR bus carrying Serb civilians, killing two passengers and injuringthree, violent clashes took place between the Albanian and Serb populations that could hardly becontrolled by the international military contingent,
B. whereas KFOR evacuated some 500 people, in particular Albanian Kosovar families, following the
violent clashes that broke out after the attack on the bus,
C. noting the deepening division of the city and the surrounding suburbs along ethnic lines,
D. pointing out the plight of the Serbminority, which is living in dire straits in enclaves defended b y
KFOR, with no possibility to move freely,
E. whereas the Council has not yet responded to the call made by Parliament for a discussion of the
question of Albanian Kosovar political prisoners in Serbia,
F. shocked and appalled by reports of the unfounded sentencing of Ms Flora Brovina, an Albanian Koso-
var doctor, to twelve years’ imprisonment, by a court in the Serbian city of Nis,
1. Condemns strongly the outbreak of violence in Mitrovic ´a by all opposing groups in the city;
2. Regrets that the latest wave of violence has resulted in a number of victims on all sides;3. Condemns the first direct assault on KFOR troops by snipers in Mitrovic ´a;
4. Expresses once again its grave concern over the situation of thousands of Albanian Kosovar detainees
imprisoned in appalling conditions in Serbia;
5. Urges the Council to take a new, decisive initiative with a view to exerting strong pressure on the
Belgrade authorities and obtaining the release of Albanian Kosovar political prisoners;
6. Appeals to the Serbian government to immediately release Ms Brovina, who, according to the latest
news, is being held prisoner in the prison hospital at Pozarevac in Serbia, where she is in a poor state ofhealth;
(1) OJ C 301, 18.10.1999, p. 30.
(2) Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 16.29.11.2000 EN C 339/273 Official Journal of the European Communities
Thursday 17 February 2000
7. Urges all sides involved to cease immediately all acts of aggression and to comply with Regulation
2000/4, which prohibits incitement to national, racial, religious or ethnic hatred, discord or intolerance,as a key element for a democratic society in which civil discussions and political debates must take place ina responsible and non-violent manner;
8. Calls on both parties to cooperate fully with UNMIK in order to set up an effective power-sharing
administration capable of facilitating reconstruction activities and a return to daily life;
9. Gives its full support to the taking of appropriate action by KFOR in response to criminal activity
against any citizens of Kosovo and to protect civilians who belong to ethnic minorities;
10. Calls on the Council and the Member States to redouble their efforts to provide the necessary man-
power and resources for the United Nations police and for the establishment of the judiciary;
11. Urges, in this respect, the Council and the Commission to make EU support conditional, favouring
reconstruction projects in those parts of Kosovo where human and minority rights are fully respected and
democratic principles guaranteed;
12. Calls on the Council to link the softening of sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to
the adoption of a more conciliatory approach by the Belgrade authorities on the issue of the AlbanianKosovar political prisoners held in Serbia;
13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments
of the Member States, the authorities of Serbia and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the UN Repre-sentative in Kosovo, the OSCE and the International Red Cross.
14. Human rights: Press freedom in Angola
B5-0151,0160,0165,0166 and 0178/2000
European Parliament resolution on press freedom in Angola
The European Parliament,
.dash having regard to the previous declarations of the EU on Angola,
.dash having regard to the UN declaration on human rights and the UN declaration on human rights defen-
ders adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998,
A. noting that since January 1999 some 20 journalists, mainly from the independent media, have been
detained and questioned concerning alleged defamation and/or crimes against the security of the state,
B. noting the pending trial of journalist and human rights defender Rafael Marques de Morais for defa-
mation of President Eduardo dos Santos, together with two other journalists, Joaquim Manual Aguiardos Santos and António José Freitas de Jesus Correia, who have been charged with defamation inunrelated, yet similar cases,
C. shocked by the remarks made on 19 January 2000 during a parliamentary debate on press freedom
and freedom of expression in Angola by a senior MPLA (Angolan People’s Liberation Movement)Member of Parliament, Mr Mendes de Carvalho, suggesting that Mr Marques would not live to theage of 40 if he kept writing critically about the Angolan government,
D. whereas the leading institutions of Angola have not to date seen fit to dissociate themselves from
these unacceptable remarks which represent a threat to the life of Mr Marques as well as a seriousattack on press freedom and freedom of expression in Angola,C 339/274 EN 29.11.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities
Thursday 17 February 2000