[A-PAL] a-pal newsletter: Euro. parl. resolution

[Alice Mead]

DECEMBER 15, 2000
                                     A-PAL UPDATE:
                      ************************************
  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION  FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE 
ALBANIAN PRISONERS--adopted from resolutions  proposed by both the 
Green Party and the Italian members.
This information was forwarded to A-PAL by Arie Oostlander, MEP. 
Thanks to all members of European Parliament and Dr. Flora Brovina 
for her recent trip to meet with EP officials for their help in 
preparing this resolution.

_____________________________________________________


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  on 
fundamental rights in Serbia and Kosovo,

- 	having regard to its resolutions on the situation of Albanian 
Kosovar prisoners, in particular its resolution of 17 February 2000 
and its resolution of 30 November 2000 on 'Progress in the 
implementation of the CFSP' ,

- 	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 journalist 
Miroslav Filipovic on 10 October 2000,

B.	regretting, however, that the fate of all political prisoners 
in Kosovo who were deprived of their freedom 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 laws without delay,

D.	recalling that the political changes underway in Belgrade 
cannot exonerate the former Yugoslav leaders, in particular Mr 
Slobodan Milosevic, from their charges before the International 
Criminal Tribunal for crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia,

E.	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 problems in the region 
through peaceful talks,

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 
policemen,

1.	Calls on President Kostunica to take all possible steps to 
secure the release of all political prisoners from the Milosevic era 
who are still detained in Serbian prisons;

2.	Points out that it will damage the political credibility of 
the new President if political prisoners of the 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 sustainable agreement between 
Serbs and Kosovars which could resolve a protracted conflict;

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

7.	Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the 
Commission, the Council, President Kostunica and UNMIK.
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