98/240/CFSP: Common Position of 19 March 1998 defined by the Council on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union on restrictive measures against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Date: 1998-03-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU visa policy, Serbia and Montenegro, export restriction, international sanctions, military equipment, repression, terrorism

27.3.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

L  95/1

(Acts  adopted  under  Title  V  of  the  Treaty  on  European  Union)

COMMON  POSITION

of  19  March  1998

defined  by  the  Council  on  the  basis  of  Article  J.2  of  the  Treaty  on  European  Union  on
restrictive  measures  against  the  Federal  Republic  of  Yugoslavia

(98/240/CFSP)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  European  Union,  and  in
particular  Article  J.2  thereof,

Whereas  recent  events 
in  the  Federal  Republic  of
Yugoslavia  (FRY),  and  in  particular  the  use  of  force
against  the  Kosovar  Albanian  Community  in  Kosovo,
represent  an  unacceptable  violation  of  human  rights  and
put  the  security  of  the  region  at  risk;

the  European  Union 

Whereas 
strongly  condemns
terrorism  and  violent  acts  committed  by  the  Kosovo
Liberation  Army,  or  any  group  or  individual;

—  cooperating  in  a  constructive  manner  in  order  to
implement  the  action  set  out  in  paragraph  6  of  the
Contact  Group  statement;

Whereas  the  restrictive  measures  in  Articles  1  to  4,
including  the  reduction  of  economic  and/or  financial
relations,  are  deemed  necessary;  whereas  such  measures
will  be  reconsidered  immediately  if  the  Government  of
the  FRY  takes  the  steps  referred  to  in  the  previous
recital;

Whereas  the  Union  will  move  to  further  international
measures,  and  specifically  to  pursue  a  freezing  of  the
funds  held  abroad  by  the  FRY  and  the  Serbian
Governments, should the above steps not be implemented
and  repression  continue  in  Kosovo,

Whereas  the  Union  strongly  condemns  the  violent
repression  of  the  non-violent  expression  of  political
views;

HAS  DEFINED  THIS  COMMON  POSITION:

Whereas  the  Union  endorsed  on  12  March  1998  the
statement  issued  by  the  Contact  Group  on  9  March
1998;

Whereas  the  Union  demands  that  the  Government  of  the
FRY  take  effective  steps  to  stop  the  violence  and  engage
in  a  commitment  to  find  a  political  solution  to  the  issue
of  Kosovo  through  a  peaceful  dialogue  with  the  Kosovar
Albanian  Community,  in  particular  by:

—  withdrawing  the  special  police  units  and  ceasing
action  by  the  security  forces  affecting  the  civilian
population,

—  allowing  access  to  Kosovo  for  the  International
Committee  of  the  Red  Cross  and  other  humanitarian
organisations  as  well  as  by  representatives  of  the
Union  and  other  Embassies,

—  committing  itself  publicly  to  begin  a  process  of
dialogue with the leadership of the Kosovar Albanian
Community,

Article  1

The  European  Union  confirms  the  embargo  on  arms
exports to the former Yugoslavia established by Common
Position  96/184/CFSP (1).

Article  2

No  equipment  which  might  be  used 
internal
repression or for terrorism will be supplied to the Federal
Republic  of  Yugoslavia.

for 

Article  3

will 

moratorium 

A 
on
government-financed  export  credit  support  for  trade  and
investment, 
for
including 
privatisations, in Serbia.

implemented 

government 

financing 

be 

(1)  OJ  L  58,  7.3.1996,  p.  1.

L  95/2

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

27.3.98

Article  4

Article  5

1. No  visas  shall  be  issued  for  senior  FRY  and  Serbian
representatives  responsible  for  repressive  action  by  FRY
security  forces  in  Kosovo.

2. The  persons  listed  in  the  Annex,  who  have  been
identified as having clear security responsibilities, shall be
reported  for  the  purpose  of  non-admission 
in  the
territories  of  the  Member  States.  Other  senior  FRY  and
Serbian  representatives  responsible  for  repressive  action
in Kosovo would be added in the case of a failure by the
FRY  authorities  to  respond  to  the  demands  of  the
International  Community. 
cases,
exemptions  may  be  made  if  this  would  further  vital
Union objectives. The Council shall update the list in the
light  of  developments  in  Kosovo.

exceptional 

In 

This common position shall take effect on the date of its
adoption.

Article  6

This  common  position  shall  be  published  in  the  Official
Journal.

Done  at  Brussels,  19  March  1998.

For  the  Council

The  President

J.  STRAW

27.3.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

L  95/3

ANNEX

Vlajko  Stojlkovic  (Serbian  Minister  for  the  Interior)

Vlastimir  Djordjevic  (Head  of  Public  Security  Department)

Dragisa  Ristivojevic  (Deputy  Head  of  Public  Security  Department)

Obrad  Stevanovic  (Assistant  Minister  for  the  Interior)

Jovica  Stanisic  (Assistant  Minister  for  the  Interior:  Head  of  Serbian  State  Security)

Radomir  Markovic  (Assistant  Minister  for  the  Interior:  Deputy  Head  of  State  Security)

Frenki  Simatovic  (Chief  of  Special  Forces  of  State  Security)

David  Gajic  (Head  of  Security  in  Kosovo)

Lubinko  Cvetic  (Deputy  Head  of  Security  in  Kosovo)

Veljko  Odalovic  (Deputy  Head  of  the  Kosovo  Okrug)