Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Calls for Negotiations
Without Pre-judging the Outcome
Immediate start of unconditional negotiations on Kosova is urged, international
community should be represented at the talks
PRISHTINA, April 23 (KIC) - The Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe
adopted a resolution on the latest developments
in the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia"
and the situation in Kosova, 22 April 1198.
Following is the provisional edition of the resolution
and the recommendations made by
the Council:
/Begin text/
1. The latest political developments in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) - and in
particular the situation in Kosovo - represent
a threat to the stability of the country and of
the Balkan region as a whole.
2. The Assembly reiterates its position expressed
in Recommendation 1360 (1998) on the
crisis in Kosovo and in Resolution 1146 (1998)
on recent developments in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and their implications
in the Balkan region.
3. The Assembly is concerned about the growing
influence of political extremists in the
FRY, as demonstrated by the participation of
the Serb Radical Party of Mr Seselj in the
new Serbian Government.
4. The continuing tension in Montenegro should
be resolved through political dialogue. The
parliamentary elections in Montenegro, scheduled
for 31 May 1998, will be an important
indicator of respect for democratic standards.
5. The Assembly deplores the growing repression
by the authorities of media that are
trying objectively to report on the situation
in Kosovo, namely the violence used by the
police against the independent local media and
foreign journalists covering events in
Kosovo and the threats of legal prosecution.
6. The Assembly re-affirms its position that,
without pre-judging the outcome of the
negotiations, a long term solution to the crisis
in Kosovo can only be found on the basis of
a mutually agreed solution. The Assembly believes
that the solution could be a greater
autonomy for Kosovo, within a democratically
reformed FRY. Such autonomy should
guarantee respect for the rights of all ethnic
groups in Kosovo. The Assembly repeats its
call for an immediate start of unconditional
negotiations.
7. It welcomes the beginning of the implementation
in Kosovo of the 1996 education
agreement, which should contribute to a more
favorable political climate for any future
talks.
8. The Assembly welcomes the constitution of
the delegation of the Serbian Government,
which includes a special envoy of President Milosevic,
for talks with representatives of
Kosovo Albanian community. The delegation should
be authorized to discuss solutions
going beyond the existing Serbian constitution.
The international community should be
represented at these talks.
9. The Assembly also welcomes the constitution
of a negotiating team representing the
Kosovo Albanian community. It should accept to
open talks with the Belgrade authorities
forthwith.
10. The Assembly reiterates its offer to assist
in contacts between the authorities and
representatives of the Kosovo Albanian community.
The Council of Europe has
considerable expertise in the relevant areas,
such as human rights, minority rights,
education and media, which it could put at the
disposal of the parties.
11. The Assembly considers that the referendum
decided by the Serbian Parliament,
following a proposal by President Milosevic,
on the acceptability of foreign mediation does
not contribute to a solution to the Kosovo crisis.
The Yugoslav authorities should comply
with the requests of the international community,
including the mission of Mr. Felipe
Gonzalez on behalf of the OSCE and the European
Union.
12. The Assembly fully endorses Resolution 1160
of the United Nation Security Council on
the crisis in Kosovo, adopted on 31 March 1998,.
In the light of the request by the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia for membership, the Council
of Europe should be included in
consultations between the United Nations, the
Contact Group, the OSCE and the
European Union.
13. The Assembly takes note of the Yugoslav Government’s
request for Council of Europe
membership of 18 March 1998. However, this request
can only be considered if the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia respects the principles
and values on which the Council of
Europe is based, and complies with the requests
of the international community, notably
with regard to Kosovo.
14.The Assembly calls on the authorities of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to:
i. empower the delegation for talks with the
Albanian Kosovo community to discuss all
options for autonomy of Kosovo within the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia.
ii. agree to the presence of a foreign representative
or representatives to facilitate talks,
iii. comply with other requests of the international
community concerning Kosovo and the
democratic reforms in the country, as contained
in the relevant documents of the United
Nations, the OSCE, the European Union, the Contact
Group and the Council of Europe.
15. The Assembly calls on the leadership of the
Kosovo Albanians:
i. to condemn and do their utmost to prevent
the use of violence and arms trafficking,
ii. to enter into talks with the delegation of
the Serbian government and the special envoy
of President Milosevic.
16. The Assembly recommends that the Committee
of Ministers:
i. continue to deal with the situation in Kosovo
as a matter of priority within the framework
of its political dialogue,
ii. verify, in particular, the further implementation
of the education agreement regarding
Kosovo,
iii. examine, in close co-ordination with the
United Nations, the OSCE, the European Union
and the Contact Group, ways in which the Council
of Europe could facilitate contacts, and
assist in talks between the Yugoslav authorities
and the Kosovo albanian community,
iv. call on both sides to ensure implementation
of any agreement reached,
v. decide on a follow up to be given to the Yugoslav
request for Council of Europe
membership in the light of progress made by the
FRY authorities in complying with the
requests by the international community, notably
with regard to Kosovo.
17. The Assembly resolves to remain actively
seized on the issue and to send a
delegation to visit Belgrade, Pristina and Podgorica
as soon as possible./end text/
UN Human Rights Commission Calls for "Unconditional
Dialogue" and
"Complete Withdrawal" of Serbian Special Police
from Kosova
PRISHTINA, April 23 (KIC) - The United Nations
Commission on Human Rights adopted
this week, in its fifty-fourth session, a resolution
on the situation of human rights in the
"Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (Serbia and
Monetnegro) and Kosova.
The inclusion of Kosova within the "FRY" falls
meaningfully within the rubric of the UN
Commission’s discussion of the violation of human
rights "with particular reference to
colonial and other dependent countries and territories",
for Kosova is a country under
Serbian occupation.
The UN Commission on Human Rights endorsed the
recommendations of the Special
Rapporteur as contained in his report on his
visit to the FRY, including Kosova, in
particular that:
"(a) The FRY should permit forensic investigation
by independent experts concerning the
28 February operations in Likosani and Cirez
and the 5 March operations in Prekaz, and
should also conduct its own investigation of
these events;
(b) That the Kosovo Albanian leadership should
commit itself to ensure that the Kosovo
Albanian community shall pursue‘ their goals
only by peaceful means;
(c) That all parties should allow free access
for international and humanitarian
organizations and the establishment of a temporarily
expanded office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights operating out of
the permanent premises to be
established in Kosovo."
The UN Human Rights Commission regrets "the express
refusal of the FRY to allow a visit
by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary
or arbitrary executions".
The Commission called upon authorities in the
"FRY" to put an end to torture and
ill-treatment of persons in detention, and to
"repeal the 1989 Law on Special Conditions for
Real Property Transactions and to apply all other
legislation without discrimination". [The
law restricts the rights of Kosovar Albanians,
KIC]
Following is the rest of the text of the resolution
of the UN Commission on Human Rights,
in which it:
"23. Condemns violent repression of non-violent
expression of political views in Kosovo, in
particular the brutal police actions as well
as the excessive use of force against the civilian
population, including demonstrators and journalists
among the Albanian population,
condemns as well the killing of innocent civilians,
equally condemns terrorism in all its
forms and from any quarter, and underscores the
grave concern of Member States
regarding the increasingly serious situation
there;
24. Urges all parties in the FRY to act with
the utmost restraint and with full respect for
human rights, and to refrain from acts of violence;
25. Insists that the Government of the FRY:
(a) Take immediate action, in view of the deteriorating
situation in Kosovo and the danger
of escalating violence there, to put an end to
the continuing repression of and prevent
violence against the ethnic Albanian population,
as well as other communities living in
Kosovo, including acts of harassment, beatings,
brutality, torture, warrantless searches,
arbitrary detention, unfair trials and arbitrary,
unjustified evictions and dismissals;
(b) Ensure the complete withdrawal of its special
police from Kosovo;
(c) Release all political detainees, allow the
return in safety and dignity of ethnic Albanian
refugees to Kosovo and respect fully all human
rights and fundamental freedoms,
including freedom of the press, freedom of movement
and freedom from discrimination in
the field of education and information and, in
particular, improve the situation of ethnic
Albanian women and children;
(d) Allow the establishment of democratic institutions
in Kosovo;
(e) Agree to the establishment of an office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights in
Pristina;
(f) Broaden cooperation with other regional and
international actors, including by allowing
the return of the long-term missions of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in
Europe, visits by the personal representative
of the Chairman in Office of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the
establishment of a European Union
presence in Kosovo;
(g) Implement the September 1996 by Saint Egidio
memorandum of understanding on
education in Kosovo immediately and without conditions,
including at the university level,
as an important first step towards reducing regional
I tensions, while welcoming efforts
made in that regard;
26. Emphasizes the importance of a substantive,
unconditional dialogue between
authorities in Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanian
leadership aimed at achieving a lasting
resolution to the problems of Kosovo consistent
with the territorial integrity of the FRY, and
notes the proposals made by the Government of
the FRY in that direction;
27. Also emphasizes that improvements in the
promotion and protection of human rights
and political freedoms in Kosovo and the rest
of its territory as well as cooperation with the
Tribunal will assist the FRY to improve relations
with the international community;
28. Welcomes positive developments in Montenegro,
including in the areas of freedom of
the media and the treatment of ethnic minorities,
and also welcomes the formation of a
multi-ethnic coalition government;
29. Calls upon the international community:
(a) To establish appropriate safeguards to ensure
the security and fair treatment upon
return of those who sought temporary protection
and asylum, including appropriate
measures by Governments, such as legal guarantees
and follow-up mechanisms, to allow
those persons to return to their homes in the
FRY in safety and dignity".
senden