B4-0611, 0634, 0676, 0679 and 0683/98

Resolution on Kosovo

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Kosovo, in particular its resolution of 14 May 1998 ((See Minutes of that sitting, Part II, Item 6.)),

- having regard to the outcome of the meetings of the Council of Ministers of 8/9 June 1998 and the common position adopted on that occasion, the European Council of 15/16 June 1998, the Contact Group for the former Yugoslavia of 12 June 1998 and the North Atlantic Council In Defence Ministers Session of 11/12 June 1998,

A. expressing its most profound concern about the continuing and increasing violations of basic human rights, the process of ethnic cleansing and the extremely violent aggression carried out by the Serbian special police, Yugoslav army units and paramilitary forces against the population of Kosovo,

B. noting with abhorrence that the indiscriminate attacks by the special police, Yugoslav army units and paramilitary forces against the population of Kosovo, carried out with the assistance of heavy weaponry, have resulted in the deaths of many hundreds of civilians and have caused many thousands of people to seek refuge in neighbouring countries and regions, and that the stream of refugees is still growing,

C. stressing once again that the use of violence to suppress political dissent as well as the use of terrorist actions to achieve political change should be categorically rejected as a means of bringing about a solution to the crisis in Kosovo,

D. whereas all the diplomatic efforts so far made and the economic pressure, including sanctions, so far brought to bear by the Council and the Contact Group have proved to be ineffective,

E. emphasizing once again that these actions by the Belgrade regime constitute a most serious threat to peace, security and stability in the whole of the region, especially to the neighbouring countries and regions,

F. emphasizing that all necessary measures should be taken into consideration to stop this process of ethnic cleansing, brutal aggression and destabilization by the Belgrade regime and that the European Union and its Member States should take an active part in these actions,

G. having regard to the stiffer sanctions the USA and the European Union at last intend to impose on Belgrade and the recent manoeuvres carried out by NATO, which are a sign of its readiness to intervene militarily,

H. whereas ways should be found to avoid imposing harsh measures on the Republic of Montenegro, whose government and parliament are trying to play a responsible role in this crisis,

I. noting that the continuing and increasing aggression by the Belgrade regime against the population of Kosovo is making it more and more difficult to find a political solution through dialogue to the conflict in Kosovo,

J. emphasizing once again that a full and meaningful dialogue on the future status of Kosovo, aiming at a special status with a large degree of autonomy within the framework of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, between the Belgrade regime and the representatives of the population of Kosovo, accompanied by a complete end to the actions of aggression against the population of Kosovo and withdrawal of the Serbian special police, Yugoslav army units and paramilitary forces, is the only acceptable way to solve the crisis in Kosovo,

1. Strongly condemns the continuing and ever increasing violations of basic human rights, the process of ethnic cleansing and the extremely violent aggression carried out by the Serbian special police, Yugoslav army units and paramilitary forces against the population of Kosovo, and continues to condemn the use of violence by all parties;

2. Calls on the Belgrade regime to put an immediate end to the indiscriminate attacks by the special police, Yugoslav army units and paramilitary forces against the people of Kosovo and considers it the duty of the international community to make every effort to stop these attacks and to protect the Kosovo civilian population from these ethnic cleansing operations;

3. Insists that talks between Belgrade and the representatives of the Kosovo Albanians be resumed forthwith, in a neutral location and with international mediation;

4. Welcomes the common position taken by the Council, including a ban on new investments in Serbia and the freezing of funds of the FRY, as a further step to put pressure on the Serbian authorities, but calls at the same time on the Council and the Member States to take all further measures that are considered necessary to stop this process of ethnic cleansing, aggression and destabilization by the Belgrade regime and to promote actively a decision by the UN Security Council permitting the possible use of military force which may be deemed necessary to achieve this goal; therefore supports the preparations for possible military intervention on the basis of the NATO/WEU framework, both to protect the people of Kosovo and to prevent this conflict from spreading to neighbouring states;

5. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to give their fullest possible support to the neighbouring countries and regions, including support, where necessary within the framework of the WEU and NATO, to guarantee their security and stability in the region;

6. Calls on the United Nations to send international observers without delay to cover the length of the frontiers between Kosovo and Serbia;

7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to send as quickly as possible a humanitarian mission with the task of organizing the distribution of aid to the Kosovan refugees and to examine the possibility of creating humanitarian corridors along which international aid could be safely and quickly transported;

8. Calls on the Commission and the Council to give all necessary humanitarian aid to the victims of, and the refugees from, the acts of violence in Kosovo and calls on Member States to stop sending refugees and asylum-seekers back to Kosovo where protection cannot be guaranteed;

9. Points out that the powers of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTFY) extend to the whole of the former Yugoslavia and calls in consequence on its Prosecutor-General to take all measures in his power to ensure that those responsible for the crimes committed in Kosovo are prosecuted;

10. Gives its full support to all persons and organizations within and outside Kosovo who are still attempting to resolve the conflict in Kosovo by seeking a political solution through dialogue;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the WEU, NATO, the UN Security Council, the Presidents and the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and of Serbia and the representatives of the population in Kosovo.