WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1098/98 by Olivier DUPUIS to the Council. The case of Mr Ukshin Hoti
Date: 1998-03-31
Institutions: DUPUIS, European Parliament
Subjects: Kosovo, Yugoslavia, democracy, freedom of expression, human rights, legal hearing, trade relations

C 304/164

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

Answer

(8 June 1998)

The  proposal  for  a  regulation  on  olive  oil  referred  to  by  the  Honorable  Member  was  presented  by  the
Commission on 20 February 1998 and adopted by the Council on 27 April 1998.

The Council also wishes to inform the Honorable Member that, following the entry into force of the Association
Agreement, the first meeting of the EC/Tunisia Association Council is foreseen to take place during the second
semester of 1998.

(98/C 304/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1098/98

by Olivier Dupuis (ARE) to the Council

(31 March 1998)

Subject: The case of Mr Ukshin Hoti

Mr Ukshin Hoti, a lecturer in political science at the University of Pristina (Kosovo), has been in prison since
1994 following a trial in what were, to say the least, dubious circumstances and at the end of which he was found
guilty of (cid:145)having threatened the constitutional order(cid:146) and of (cid:145)undermining the territorial integrity of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia(cid:146). Mr Hoti had previously been arrested in 1981 for (cid:145)counter-revolutionary crimes(cid:146) and
again in 1993. He has already spent eight years of his life in prison for his beliefs, linked to his activism in favour
of a non-violent, negotiated solution to the problem of Kosovo.

What action has the Council taken and what steps does it intend to take to secure Mr Hoti(cid:146)s release by the Serbian
authorities, and what steps does it intend to take to secure the support of the Kosovar authorities for his release?

Answer

(4 June 1998)

The Council deeply regrets the sentence imposed on Mr Ukshin Hoti and the circumstances of his condemnation.

The Council points out that freedom of expression is a universal fundamental right that every democratic country
has  the  duty  to  guarantee,  as  is  the  right  to  a  free  and  fair  trial.  Respect  for  human  rights  and  democratic
principles are basic elements of the Union(cid:146)s regional approach and pillars of the conditionality policy towards the
Federal Republic of Yougoslavia (FRY). It is precisely because of dissatisfaction on the issue of Kosovo and on
the FRY(cid:146)s record on human rights that the Union withdrew, at the end of 1997, the Autonomous Trade Measures
granted to the FRY on 29 April 1997. A lasting solution to the Kosovo issue and a full respect of human rights
and democratic principles remain in the forefront of EU requests in dealing with the FRY, and a condition for
improving bilateral relations.

Action in favour of the release of Mr Hoti must be seen within the overall EU action in favour of respect of
human rights and democratic standards in the FRY. In this framework, the EU will continue to press the Serb
authorities on all cases similar to that raised by the Honourable Member.

(98/C 304/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1155/98

by Concepcio· Ferrer (PPE) to the Council

(3 April 1998)

Subject: Detainees in Equatorial Guinea

Four  Spanish  citizens  could  be  sentenced  to  death  by  the  Equato-Guinean  courts  if  the  Public  Prosecutor
succeeds with his application, lodged in Malabo yesterday, at the beginning of the political trial of 90 people who
are alleged to be activists for the Bubi minority people and are accused of fomenting the rebellion on the island of
Bioko at the end of January this year with the aim of winning self-determination for the island.