European Parliament resolution on political prisoners in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and instability on the borders of Kosovo
Date: 2000-12-14
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, frontier region, peacekeeping, political prisoner, violence

C 232/352

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

17.8.2001

Thursday 14 December 2000

6.
Calls upon States and all concerned parties to urgently take all possible measures to safeguard the
physical security and property of UNHCR staff and all other humanitarian aid workers, to investigate fully
any crime committed against them, and to bring to justice those responsible;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of

7.
the Member States and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

17. Political prisoners in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and instability on

the borders of Kosovo

B5-0902, 0909, 0914, 0923 and 0929/2000

European Parliament resolution on political prisoners in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and
instability on the borders of Kosovo

The European Parliament,

& having regard to its resolution of 15 June 2000 (1) on fundamental rights in Serbia and Kosovo,

& having regard to its resolutions on the situation of Albanian Kosovar prisoners, in particular its reso-
lution of 17 February 2000 (2), and its resolution of 30 November 2000 on ‘Progress in the imple-
mentation of the CFSP’ (3),

& having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999,

& having regard to a recent meeting of the European Parliament delegation for relations with South-

Eastern Europe with Mrs Flora Brovina in Brussels on 21 November 2000,

& having regard to the Zagreb Summit Final Declaration of 24 November 2000,

A. welcoming the release of the Albanian doctor and human rights campaigner Flora Brovina on the
orders of the newly elected President Kostunica on 1 November 2000 as well as of the Serbian jour-
nalist Miroslav Filipovic on 10 October 2000,

B.

regretting, however, that the fate of all political prisoners in Kosovo who were deprived of their free-
dom by the Milosevic regime solely because of their ethnicity or political convictions has not yet been
resolved by the new democratic forces in Yugoslavia and that since the readmission of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia to the UN, the OSCE and Europe, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has not
set a date for the release of the prisoners or provided details of an amnesty law,

C. underlining that the presidential elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have paved the way
for the rule of law in the country and that President Kostunica has promised that he will apply the
Constitution and the law without delay,

D.

E.

recalling that the political changes underway in Belgrade cannot exonerate the former Yugoslav lea-
ders, in particular Mr Slobodan Milosevic, from their charges before the International Criminal Tribu-
nal for crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia,

expressing its concern about the latest armed attacks by ethnic Albanians and other extremists in the
Presevo area of South-Eastern Serbia along the border between Kosovo and Serbia which could have
the effect of destabilising the situation just at a time when there are good chances of resolving pro-
blems in the region through peaceful talks,

‘Texts Adopted’, Item 7.

(1)
(2) OJ C 339, 29.11.2000, p. 273.
(3)

‘Texts Adopted’, Item 9.

17.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 232/353

F.

having regard to the agreement reached last year between NATO and Yugoslavia which makes this
zone off-limits to security forces from both sides, with the exception of lightly armed Serbian police-
men,

Thursday 14 December 2000

Calls on President Kostunica to take all possible steps to secure the release of all political prisoners

1.
from the Milosevic era who are still detained in Serbian prisons;

Points out that it will damage the political credibility of the new President if political prisoners of the
2.
Milosevic regime remain political prisoners under the new leadership and therefore urges that a dignified
solution be found for the new democracy in Serbia and firmly believes that all political prisoners should be
released by presidential pardon or on the basis of an amnesty law currently being drafted by the Yugoslav
Ministry of Justice, while the Albanian Kosovar political prisoners could be handed over to UNMIK, taking
into account UN Security Council Resolution 1244;

3.
Calls on both sides & the Albanian Kosovars and the new leadership in Belgrade & to investigate the
fate of missing persons, both Albanian Kosovars and Serbs, who disappeared before, during and after the
Kosovo conflict and by so doing to re-establish a basis of confidence between the two groups as a vital
condition for peaceful development in Kosovo;

4.
Strongly condemns the recent violence in Kosovo and in the bordering areas of Presevo and calls on
all parties concerned not to increase tensions in the security zone between Kosovo and Serbia at a time
when, after the election of President Kostunica, there are real chances of reaching a peaceful and sustain-
able agreement between Serbs and Kosovars which could resolve a protracted conflict;

Calls upon the multinational KFOR peacekeeping force in Kosovo to reinforce control on the border

5.
with Serbia so as to prevent further incursions by ethnic Albanian extremists;

6.
Calls on the UN, the Council and the Commission to establish the political conditions for the start of
a positive and constructive dialogue between the Yugoslav Federal Government and the political leaders in
Kosovo;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, President Kostunica

7.
and UNMIK.

18. Human rights: Chile

B5-0903, 0911, 0915, 0924 and 0930/2000

European Parliament resolution on the legal proceedings against General Pinochet and the conso-
lidation of democracy in Chile

The European Parliament,

A. whereas the principle of the separation of powers is a crucial element of the democratic system which

should furnish an effective guarantee of an independent judiciary,

B.

underlining that EU-Chile relations must be based on respect for human rights, democratic values and
a shared vision of justice and accountability for crimes against humanity,

Expresses its respect for the Chilean judiciary and the independence of which it has shown proof in
1.
the proceedings against General Pinochet, and calls for such respect to be scrupulously practised by the
state institutions;

Supports, similarly, the attitude of the government of President Lagos as regards non-interference in

2.
the judicial process;