WRITTEN QUESTION E-0535/98 by Raymonde Dury (PSE) to the Council (27 February 1998)

Subject: Cultural repression of the Albanian-speaking peoples' right to education in a mother tongue

We hear with growing concern of the worsening persecution of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, due to the Serbian policy of 'Ethnic Cleansing'.

This question highlights the repression in the educational sphere. A Serb police occupation of the University of Prishtina, which has now continued for 7 years, has forced the ethnic Albanians out of the university buildings. Albanians attempt to continue with clandestine teaching, yet teachers are beaten when discovered holding classes in their mother tongue. Peaceful protests are violently quashed by the Serb police and 80% of University buildings stand empty.

Could the Council specify:

1. How it intends to apply diplomatic pressure in reaction to Serbian policy, which contravenes international law guaranteeing the fundamental human right to education in mother tongues?

2. Why the decision to set up a European representative in Kosovo, agreed several months ago, has still not been implemented?

3. Any further measures it may intend to put in motion to restore democratic and civil freedoms, or pressure it may bring to bear upon Milosevic, in particular concerning the Serbian failure to implement the 'Educational Agreement' of 1996, signed between Presiding Rugova and Milosevic to ease tensions, as a previous response to international pressure regarding economic sanctions.

Answer (16-17 June 1998)

1. Throughout the past months, the concern of the Honourable Member of Parliament about the deteriorating situation in Kosovo has been also that of the Council, which has devoted much of its attention to it and, specifically, to the implementation of the Education Agreement signed between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Kosovar Albanian leadership in 1996.

2. Dissatisfaction with FRY policy in the field of human rights and respect for democratic standards prompted the decision, taken by the Council in December 1997, to withdraw the Autonomous Trade Measures it had granted the FRY on 29 April 1997. The Council has repeatedly confirmed its firm and unequivocal stance in favour of a large degree of autonomy for the region concerned, which entails a full reinstatement of the right of ethnic Kosovar Albanians to education in their mother tongue. On 19 March 1998, the Council appointed Mr Felipe Gonzalez as EU Special Representative for the FRY, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of the EU's contribution to the resolution of problems in the FRY.

3. The issue of an EU office in Pristina has been taken up several times in the past by the EU with the FRY authorities, which have still to respond to the EU request. There is however a growing EU presence in Pristina. ECHO has established a permanent presence in the Kosovar capital, as has the European Community Monitor Mission (ECMM), which has re-deployed to that city two observers previously stationed in Podgorica. The issue of a permanent EU presence in Pristina is still under discussion.

4. Firm diplomatic pressure by the EU, in conjunction with that exerted by the other international actors in the Kosovo crisis, has induced the Serbian authorities to sign with the Kosovar Albanian leadership, on 23 March 1998, an agreement implementing the 1996 Education Agreement. Throughout the process, the EU has strongly supported the efforts of the St. Egidio Community, which has remained in close contact with the EU Presidency and Member States. The EU has already declared that it is willing to substantially support implementation of the agreement; the Presidency and the Commission have undertaken a joint mission to Belgrade and Pristina on 31 March and 1 April 1998, to liaise directly with Monsignor Paglia and the local authorities in order to examine how best the EU can support the Agreement.