WRITTEN QUESTION E-2798/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(18 September 1998)

Subject: Observers on the border between Albania and Kosovo

Despite both mediation by and pressure from the international community, Albanian political leaders in Kosovo are not succeeding in forming a common platform for negotiations with the authorities. Leaders of the so-called "Kosovo Liberation Army" (UCK) are giving conflicting signals regarding their participation in any negotiations. Some say that they will participate in negotiations under certain conditions. Others say that they intend to fight on until what they call the "definitive liberation of Kosovo" or until a Greater Albania is established.

On the other hand, nearly every day arms and personnel for the UCK are still being brought into Kosovo from Albania, either directly or via Macedonia. So long as this remains possible, at least part of the UCK (and probably a substantial part) will not feel any inclination to support any negotiations, let alone accept their outcome. And so long as the UCK does not openly endorse the holding of negotiations, the politicians will not wholeheartedly do so either.

Will the Council take measures to secure the stationing of international observers on the border between Yugoslavia on the one hand and Albania and Macedonia on the other to prevent further arms smuggling, in order to send the UCK a clear signal that the EU resolutely rejects all efforts to resolve the conflict in Kosovo by military means?

Reply

(7 December 1998)

The Council continues to be deeply concerned at the continuing violence and loss of life in Kosovo, particularly among the civilian population. The Council has, on several occasions already, called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities and the restart of a political process as the only solution to the political problems of Kosovo. The Council is fully aware of Belgrade's primary responsibility in the origin of the crisis and therefore for creating the necessary conditions for dialogue. At the same time, the Council insists that the Kosovo Albanian community, including the armed groups, commit themselves to dialogue and therefore refrain from violence and acts of terrorism. On 13 July 1998, the Council demanded that outside assistance and support to armed Kosovo Albanian groups should cease immediately. Furthermore, Ministers declared that "The Council acknowledged that armed Kosovo Albanian groups also have a responsibility to avoid violence and all armed activities, and reiterated that acts of violence and terrorism are inadmissible and will not solve the problem of Kosovo".

As far as the stationing of international monitors is concerned, the Council is giving priority to an increased monitoring presence throughout Kosovo, in particular in view of humanitarian problems. The European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) - which is active not only in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY)/Kosovo, but also in Albania, FYROM and Bosnia - is one of the main elements of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer mission (KDOM) established by the EU, the United States and Russia. The aim of this mission is not only to obtain unbiased information on the developments on the ground, but also to exert, through its mere presence, a mitigating influence on the fighting. The Council would like to recall that the OSCE Presence in Albania is already regularly monitoring the border between Federal Republic of Yougoslavia (FRY) and Albania and that Unpredep is stationed at the border between FRY and FYROM. The Council is of the firm conviction that any duplication of efforts would be counter-productive in this endeavour.

The Council also wishes to draw attention to the Council decision of 22 September 1998 adopted on the basis of Article J.4(2) of the Treaty on European Union, requesting the Western European Union to complete a study on the feasibility of possible options for international police operations in Albania in order to assist the Albanian authorities to restore law and order in that country. This would include strengthening the capabilities of the Albanian police to cope with weapon smuggling.

Finally, the Council fully supports implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1160, including its provisions calling for measures to stop the flow of external support to UCK in Kosovo, including the supply of arms and training.