3. Condemnsalsothe Taliban regime’s supportofinternational terrorism;
4. Calls on the Member States to bring their influence to bear on Afghanistan’s neighbours, and in
particular Pakistan, to stop all interference in Afghan affairs; reiterates its call to the other two countries
which have recognised the Taliban regime to stopproviding it with any formofsupportand to isolate itdiplomatically;
5. Callsonthe Security Counciltoimpose an embargo onarms exportstoAfghanistan;
6. Reiterates its commitment to the quest for a political solution to enable peace, stability and respect
forinternationallawandhumanrightstoberestoredinAfghanistan;urgestheCounciltomakeapolitical
contributiontorestoringpeacetoAfghanistan,interaliabycoordinatingitsinitiativeswiththeneighbour-ing countries, especially Russia andIran;
7. CallsontheCounciltoadopta newcommonpositionwhich takesaccountofthe developingsitua-
tion and calls on the Council and Commission to report to the House on the EU’s position and actionswith regard toAfghanistan;
8. Calls on the Commissionto take the emergency humanitarian measures required to ensure the sur-
vival ofthe population, especially in the areas controlledby the Northern Alliance;
9. Calls,inparticular,forthedirectimplementationoftheTreatyofOttawaontheeliminationofanti-
personnel landmines, the organisation of a campaign to inform the population of the risks involved, andthe provision ofspecial EU aid toremove the anti-personnel mineslaidin Afghanistan;
10. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncil,theCommission,theUNSecretary-
General, the Taliban authorities, the Northern Alliance and the governments of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,the United Arab Emirates, India, China, Russia, Iran,Uzebekistan andTajikistan.
12. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
B5-0782, 0786and 0788/2000
European Parliament resolution on FYROM Gdash Law on higher education and universities
The European Parliament,
A. whereasFYROMhasbeenableinrecentyearstopreventtheoutbreakofethnicconfrontationsdespite
the violent clashestaking place in bordering countries andits fragile ethnic composition,
B. welcomingthenewlawonhighereducationanduniversities,whichwasadoptedbytheParliamentof
FYROM on 25 July 2000 and allows for the possibility of private universities being founded in that
country,
C. welcomingthefactthat,inthisway,aproblemwhichhasbeensimmeringforyearsinFYROMcould
finallybe solved,tothe benefit ofmultiethnic cooperation,
D. noting that this law establishes, in particular, conditions and a legal framework whereby members of
FYROM’s Albanian-speaking community may have access toa proper university education,22.6.2001 EN C178/287 Official Journal ofthe European Communities
Thursday 5 October 2000
E. noting that this lawalso creates conditions for the re-integration of about 7000 Albanian-speaking
studentsintoFYROM’s official education system,
F. welcomingthefactthatsomecountrieshavealreadypromisedfinancialassistanceforthisproject,and
calling onthe other EU Member Statestosupportthis project aswell,
G. welcomingthefactthatFYROMhassignedtheStatuteoftheInternationalCriminalCourt,butregret-
ting that its Parliament has notyet ratified it,
1. Welcomes the adoption of a newlawon higher education and universities by the Parliament of
FYROM, since it represents an important political condition for the positive development of multiethnic
cooperation in FYROM aswell as forthe democratisation andstabilisationofthe entire region;
2. WelcomesthecouragewhichtheGovernmentandthemajorityinFYROM’sParliamenthavedemon-
stratedandpaystribute tothe rolewhich the OSCE’sHigh Representative forMinorities hasplayed whendealing with this question;
3. Calls on all political forces in FYROM to accept the agreed compromise, for the benefit of multi-
ethnic cooperation in that country;
4. Calls on the Commission and Council to give top priority to the success of this project, within the
framework offinancial assistancetothe Balkans;
5. Is of the opinion that successful multiethnic cooperation in FYROM may be used as a model in the
regionwithaviewtothepromotionoftheprocessofdemocratisationandstabilisationofallthecountries
in south-eastEurope;
6. Urges both FYROM and the Commission to do their utmost to ensure that the Association and
StabilisationAgreement isdulysigned under the French Presidency before the end ofthe year;
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Government
andParliament ofFYROM andtothe OSCE’sHigh Representative forMinorities.
13. Sinking of Greek ferry ‘Samina’
B5-0783, 0787 and 0791/2000
European Parliament resolution on the sinking of the Greek ferry ‘Samina’
The European Parliament,
A. havingregardtothesinkingofthe‘ExpressSamina’,whichoccurredonthenightofTuesday,26Sep-
tember near the island of Paros in Greece and which has to date claimed 79 lives, in addition to anumber ofmissing persons,
B. having regard tothe judicial inquiry into the causes ofthe tragedy which hasalready commenced,
C. having regard tothe exemptions granted toGreece in the maritime sector,
1. Expresses its deepest sympathy to and solidarity with the families of the deceased and the survivors
ofthe shipwreck andextendsits gratitude to thoseinvolvedin the rescue operation;C178/288 EN22.6.2001 Official Journal ofthe European Communities
Thursday 5 October 2000