B4-0087, 0099, 0104, 0127, 0139 and 0156/97

Resolution on the situation in Mostar and Brcko

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Bosnia Herzegovina and especially on the situation in Mostar,

A. noting with great concern that since the withdrawal of the European Union Administration of Mostar on 1 January 1997 a number of violent incidents have taken place in the city of Mostar,

B. noting that these incidents are aimed at reinforcing further the segregation between the Croat and Muslim parts of the city,

C. noting with concern that the international police force does not possess the means to act effectively against these violent acts of continuing ethnic cleansing and that some members of the local police force even seem to be participating in these incidents,

D. noting that these acts of violence may completely destroy the European Union's investment in the reconstruction of the city and its efforts to rebuild a multicultural, multiethnic and multireligious society, which remains a political and moral responsibility of the European Union,

E. whereas Croats are still illegally evicting Muslims living in the Croat part of Mostar, bringing the total of such illegal moves to well over 100,

F. whereas violent clashes have been taking place in Mostar, notably on 10 February 1997 when Muslims headed for a cemetery in the Croatian part of the town were attacked by Croats, resulting in one Muslim dead and 22 injured,

G. whereas the status of the city of Brcko was to be decided by binding arbitration no later than 14 December 1996, according to Annex 2, Article V of the Dayton Agreement,

H. whereas the arbitrators proposed on 14 February 1997 that Brcko be put under international supervision for about a year, putting off a final decision on its status until March 1998,

On Mostar

1. Strongly condemns the recent acts of violence in the city of Mostar aimed at reinforcing further segregation in the city and the process of ethnic cleansing;

2. Is convinced that a further escalation of the incidents in Mostar will endanger the continuation of the peace process in the whole of Bosnia- Herzegovina;

3. Calls on the Council and the Commission to exert all necessary pressure on the Government of the Republic of Croatia to urge those in power in western Mostar to refrain from illegal activities which threaten the implementation of the Dayton Agreement;

4. Calls on the Commission and the Council and especially on the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina to take the necessary steps to put an end to these incidents with all necessary means and to guarantee the implementation of the peace process in the whole of Bosnia-Herzegovina;

5. Calls on the Council and the Commission to strengthen the role, reinforce the mandate and increase the capacity of the international police task force whose action is crucial for any peaceful development of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in particular in Mostar;

6. Calls on the Commission to halt aid for western Mostar as long as the safety, the property rights and the right to reside for Muslims present in that area and of returning refugees cannot be sufficiently guaranteed, while urging the Commission to increase reconstruction aid for eastern Mostar, in view of the unwillingness of the Croatian side of Mostar to cooperate;

On Brcko

7. Believes that the international temporary solution for the Brcko corridor can only be successful if the proposed provisions are fully implemented with the return of refugees in security and dignity and the Deputy High Representative is provided with the necessary resources to enforce his mandate;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Office of the High Representative and the governments and the parliaments of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.