B4-1298, 1301/rev., 1306, 1307, 1308, 1309 and 1310/95

Resolution on the former Yugoslavia

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, especially its resolution of 21 September 1995 ((Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 1.)),

- having regard to the communication from the Commission on the reconstruction plan for the areas suffering from the effects of war in the former Yugoslavia,

A. welcoming the ceasefire reached in Bosnia-Herzegovina as a turning-point which could lead to a peaceful solution to the barbaric conflict in this country,

B. whereas a programme for economic recovery and civic reconstruction could be a crucial incentive for the establishment of a lasting peace and a just international order in the area,

C. having regard to the EU's policy for Central and Eastern Europe; noting that the European Union has a special responsibility for this area and therefore that the Council, Commission and the Member States should make every effort to guarantee the success of the peace processes and contribute to the implementation of the UN Security Council decisions,

D. whereas the European Union institutions, by virtue of the EC Treaty, and because of the expertise of the PHARE programme departments and the EC Monitoring Mission, have the necessary legal, political and technical instruments to take a leading role in the formulation and execution of the reconstruction plan,

E. whereas the success of the reconstruction plan depends on juridical, constitutional, political, social and economic preconditions which have to be met by the beneficiaries,

F. greatly concerned by the EC Monitoring Mission report on the killings and the harassment of civilians and of the looting and the burning of many houses in Krajina and the ongoing ethnic cleansing in the Banja Luka area, human rights violations against Serb civilians and refugees and by the ongoing ethnic suppression in many areas such as Kosovo,

G. stressing that the process of reconstruction in the republics of the former Yugoslavia cannot be limited to massive humanitarian and economic and infrastructural aid but also implies the establishment and reinforcement of democratic structures and the rebuilding of the conditions for the participation of all citizens in the political institutions, no matter which ethnic group they belong to, and the full expression of civil society,

1. Calls on the Commission to continue the humanitarian aid of ECHO according to the needs of the citizens;

2. Insists that adherence to the peace plan must, if necessary, be enforced by forces with an appropriate UN mandate;

3. Calls on the Council and the Commission to cooperate with the UN and other international organizations on the immediate convening of an international donor conference for a programme of economic and civic recovery in the war- stricken areas of the former Yugoslavia; calls on the Commission to present the guidelines for such a programme as soon as possible to the Council and the European Parliament and suggests that one of the Commissioners be appointed as a special coordinator for the programme;

4. Is of the opinion that such a conference should guarantee the continuation of humanitarian aid, the development of a programme for the reconstruction of the infrastructure and economic restructuring as well as the building-up of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society in all countries of the former Yugoslavia, and especially the preservation of the unity of Bosnia-Herzegovina;

5. Is convinced that the formulation and execution of the reconstruction plan should serve as a cornerstone for the establishment of a lasting and just peace and that the beneficiaries must therefore:

- respect the rule of law and human rights and the rights of minorities;

- recognize and cooperate with the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia;

- provide guarantees for the right of return and the protection of all refugees and displaced persons and of the right to compensation for property which was destroyed;

- establish constructive relations with the other states of the former Yugoslavia, beginning with their mutual recognition;

- support inter-regional/inter-ethnic cooperation and cross-border reconstruction projects;

6. Urges the governments of all the countries of the former Yugoslavia to set up the necessary administrative and management structures in order to guarantee that this programme for economic and civic reconstruction benefits all people living in this region;

7. Believes that the implementation of the reconstruction plan should, wherever possible, be channelled through local structures: the experience of the administration of Mostar should be used, stimulating cooperation among local communities and utilizing the experience of NGOs in the framework of the plan;

8. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to:

- support the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia with all necessary means in order to allow it to function adequately;

- support the search for disappeared persons;

- support those organizations which try to heal rifts in inter-ethnic relations in the former Yugoslavia;

9. Is of the opinion that the embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should be lifted as soon as it fulfills the conditions laid down in the UN Security Council resolutions;

10. Calls for the convening of free and democratic elections, according to procedures which do not accept the result of ethnic cleansing and which should be internationally monitored, especially by the European Union, and insists that financial and technical support must be provided for the various media in order to guarantee their independence and hence objective information for citizens;

11. Instructs the chairmen of its competent committees to organize a hearing on the subject attended by the EU mediator, the Special UN Observer for Human Rights in former Yugoslavia, the Commission and the Council;

12. Calls on the Council and the Commission to take into account the special significance of the political problems of the citizens of Kosovo which played such an important role in starting the disaster in the former Yugoslavia;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments and parliaments of the republics of the former Yugoslavia, the UN Security Council, and the Contact Group.