THE PARLIAMENT OF SERBIA OFFERS DIALOGUE, 9/26/98
 
ddc posted Message 6445 in the SM News
received on Sun, 27 Sep 1998 by Fr. Sava <decani@EUnet.yu>

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Betreff:  SM News:6445: Press Release: THE PARLIAMENT OF SERBIA OFFERS DIALOGUE, 9/26/98
Datum:  Sun, 27 Sep 1998 13:02:55 -0400 (EDT)
    Von:   ddc@srpska-mreza.com
 
ddc posted Message 6445 in the SM News:
 
Dated  : September 27, 1998 at 13:02:03
Subject: Press Release: THE PARLIAMENT OF SERBIA OFFERS DIALOGUE, 9/26/98
[Note: sorry for any scanning errors. --ddc]

PRESS RELEASE, 26 September 1998

THE PARLIAMENT OF SERBIA OFFERS DIALOGUE

On its session on Friday, Chaired by Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic, the Serbian Government reviewed the security, social and economic situation in Kosovo and Metohiia, adopting draft conclusions which it submitted to the Republican Parliament for adoption, Following is an unofficial translation of the text of the draft:

1. The Serbian Parliament assesses that Albanian separatism, the aim of which is the secession of Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia, is the main cause of problems in the Province. The separatism has given rise to terrorism aimed at achieving that goal through violence and crimes.

Suppression and eradication of terrorism and the solution of the problems in Kosovo and Metohija constitute the national and state priority Serbia defends its territorial integrity in Kosovo and Metohija and the system based on the Serbian Constitution. The state is taking all necessary measures to secure that and will continue to do so.  This is its legitimate right and constitutional obligation.  Kosovo and Metohija is an integral part of Serbia and it will continue to be so.

The Serbian Parliament confirms the strong determination of Serbia, its citizens and all bodies of authority to secure the respect of the law in Kosovo and Metohija and the rest of Serbia, as well as full equality and a life in peace and security of all citizens regardless of their ethnic or religious origin.

It is Serbia's lasting undertaking, established and guaranteed by the Constitution, not to divide its citizens along ethnic, religious or any other lines. It is Serbia's resolve to have human and civil rights exercised and to have them exercised by all citizens, that they preserve and cherish their national characteristics - the language, script, tradition, culture and customs - because it is in this way alone that it will be in their interest to live in peace and not threaten or deny the rights and interests of others who live with them.

2. In Kosovo and Metohija we are faced with terrorism without scruples Terrorists have committed numerous crimes against humanity, abducting, torturing, raping and massacring innocent civilians - women, children and the elderly, Serbs and Albanians - police officers and soldiers and all those who oppose them in attaining their inhuman and criminal goals. The execution sites uncovered in the villages of Klecka, Glodjane and Ratis and in other localities are the most convincing confirmation of their genocidal and atrocious methods of torturing, killing, massacring and burning people in crematoriums.  The state has resolutely put an end to it.

The Parliament assesses that terrorism in Kosovo and Metohija must be eradicated and that its proponents and the perpetrators of crimes must be brought to justice in keeping with the law.

3. The Parliament points out in particular that the Serbian police and the members of the Yugoslav Army guarding the border have fulfilled all their duties honourably, responsibly and professionally, with great dedication, personal courage and sacrifice, confirming their patriotic commitment to their people and state, to the freedom and equality of all its citizens.  The Parliament of the Republic of Serbia gives the recognition due them for the deeds.

4. The Parliament fully supports the activities of the Serbian Government and all measures taken so far aimed at protecting and preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and Yugoslavia, eliminating terrorists and protecting the lives and property of all citizens threatened by terrorist and separatist activities.

The Serbian Parliament assesses that, due to these measures, the situation in Kosovo and Metohija has improved significantly both with regard to security and the social, humanitarian and economic issues.

Terrorist strongholds have been shattered, terrorists arrested and disarmed, while a mass and voluntary hand-over of arms has been secured.  A large number of citizens who had to leave their homes and villages because of terrorist activities have returned to their homes, jobs and life in peace

5. The Parliament points out in particular that the Republic of Serbia makes a clear distinction between terrorists and terrorism, on the one hand, and a vast majority of the members of the Albanian national community, on the other, who wish to live, work and exercise all their legitimate rights in peace and tolerance, together with other citizens of Serbia and Yugoslavia.

Terrorism and terrorists have nothing in common with the interests of the Albanians ' on the contrary, they cause the Albanians great harm, suffering and human losses, deceiving them with false promises and pushing them into uncertainty, backwardness, isolation, poverty and tragedy.

The Parliament calls on all citizens forcibly armed by Albanian terrorists to continue to hand over the arms and military equipment to the security organs and to return to regular life and work in peace.  The Republic of Serbia guarantees them security.

The Serbian Parliament calls on the remaining Albanians forced to leave their homes by terrorists to return freely to their homes and villages immediately. The Serbian Government will continue its extensive action of rendering assistance through a network of humanitarian centres and in other ways in order to remove the numerous consequences of terrorist activities as soon as possible and to create conditions for a peaceful and safe life of all citizens and for work in peace and freedom.

6. The Serbian Parliament condemns most strongly all those countries which assist terrorists financially, through media, by sending arms and equipment or in other ways, while at the same time they demand or call for military intervention against our country, cynically invoking alleged humanitarian reasons. Overtly, the Republic of Albania has been a base of the terrorist organization of the so-called "KLA", recruiting its members, establishing boot camps, arming and dispatching terrorists to the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. Such behaviour and activity has been and remains in direct contrast with all basic resolutions of the United Nations and other international organizations.

The Serbian Parliament expects that the international community will ensure that all necessary measures be taken, so that this organization be condemned and put on the list of international terrorist organizations and that financial, military, logistical and every other assistance to terrorists be withheld.

7. The Serbian Parliament expresses its indignation that some important factors in the international community deliberately disregard facts, expose Serbia and Yugoslavia to all sorts of constant pressure, threats and blackmail, abusing U. N. mechanisms, especially the Security Council, in order to realize their goals, proposing measures which directly threaten the sovereignty and integrity of Yugoslavia and its further economic, social and cultural development.  By stepping up pressure on our country, at a time when Serbia's state organs are uncovering new terrorist crimes in Kosovo and Metohija every day, some members of the international community in effect justify and pardon the restoration of crematoriums, mass executions and other monstrous terrorist atrocities, which can only delay a peaceful and democratic resolution of the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija.

8. The Parliament confirms Serbia's commitment to participating actively, within Yugoslavia, in contemporary European and world integrative economic, political, cultural and other processes. We ask the international community to put an end to all forms of economic and political blockade and double standards in the fight against terrorism and in international relations, and to encourage, assist and stimulate all-round economic, political, good-neighborly cooperation, strengthening confidence and mutual ties in the region, to enable Yugoslavia to fully participate in international organizations and institutions as this is true support to solving the problems in Kosovo and Metohija and to preserving peace and stability in the Balkans and Europe.

9. The Parliament approves the measures and plan of the Serbian Government for a speedy solution of all humanitarian problems in Kosovo and Motohija, which include the rebuilding of damaged houses, concrete measure of health protection, as well as an overall normalization of the economy and public services. Necessary funds have been ensured for the realization of the plan and the Government should continue the activities so as to ensure its successful implementation.

The Serbian Government will continue to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the aim of reducing, through common and joint efforts, the humanitarian problems to a minimum and of fully eliminating them within the shortest period of time.  The competent organs will secure all conditions for unhindered work of humanitarian organizations also in the future.

10. The Parliament assesses that, by measures of economic policy and by practical moves, the Government of the Republic of Serbia should continue to work on accelerating economic activities and activating all economic and material resources with the aim of solving successfully the economic and social problems of the citizens in Kosovo and Metohija.

Equally important for an overall revival of economic activities and the creation of conditions for life and work is also an engagement in the continued construction of infrastructure - roads, waterworks, homes of culture, schools, sports facilities, indispensable for everyday life of citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, for their communication, a speedy economic and cultural development.  The Directorate for the Development of Underdeveloped Regions of the Republic of Serbia, based in Pristina, plays a special role in the implementation of these tasks.

11. The Parliament points out in particular that the further stabilization of situation in education is in the interest of all people living in Kosovo and Metohija The education of young generations is one of the most important existential issues.

The Parliament points out once again that Albanian pupils and students have the right, like all other pupils and students in Kosovo and Metohija, in Serbia and Yugoslavia, to study under equal conditions and in their mother tongue, learning their culture and tradition.

The Parliament assesses that conditions have been created for eduction of all children in Kosovo and Metohija. All necessary conditions have been ensured for the normalization of university education of young Albanians at Pristina University as early as the beginning of the new academic year on 1 October in accordance with the Agreement on the normalization of education.

12. The Serbian people has never based its rights, and it shall not do so, on denying rights to others, nor will it ever acquiesce to having the rights of the Serbian people, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia threatened by anybody, Therefore, the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia - firmly committed to the solution of the problems in Kosovo and Metohija through peaceful, political means - confirms once again the principles on which the problems in Kosovo and Metohija can be solved successfully, lastingly and in the in the interest of all:

- political means and dialogue as the only way of a peaceful and democratic solution of the problems in Kosovo and Metohija;

- respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and Yugoslavia;

- solutions in keeping vath the Constitutions of Serbia and Yugoslavia and international standards in the field of human and civil rights and the rights of national minorities;

- equality Of all citizens, all national communities and ethnic groups in Kosovo and Metohija, without a possibility for majoritarianism of any particular group.

The Republic of Serbia guarantees a solution to the problems in Kosovo and Metohija in keeping with the principles and achievements of the UN Charter.  Helsinki Final Act, Paris Charter of the OSCE, and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the protection of national minorities.

In keeping with these documents and positive international practice, future solutions should include the methods of exercising self-governance, i.e. autonomy.

13. The Parliament assesses that substantive and unconditional dialogue should be resumed immediately.  An immediate resumption of dialogue is in the interest of all peoples and all national comrnunities in Kosovo and Metohija. A dialogue leading to a democratic solution is equally in the interest of Serbs, Montenegrins, Albanians, Turks, Muslims, Gypsies and others, as there is no other way for a democratic solution in Kosovo and Metohija.  Therefore, the Parliament again calls on the representatives of the political parties of the Albanian national community once again to resume dialogue with the state delegation immediately, because it is in the interest of all, in the interest of peace and common future.

14. The Parliament underscores that the future of all peoples in Kosovo and Metohija is not in ethnic, religious or cultural self-isolation, divisions and conflicts, but in peace, equality, ties and life together, and calls on all organizations and people of good will to direct their activities toward that goal. It is high time the representatives of the political parties of the Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija committed themselves unequivocally to dialogue without any conditions and became actively involved in the joint process of seeking a political solution that would ensure full equality of all peoples and all national communities living in Kosovo and Metohija.

15. The Parliament expresses the conviction and commitment of all people and political forces of democratic, humanistic and patriotic orientation, to perseverance in the policy of equality, preservation of the sovereignty and integrity of Yugoslavia and its equitable cooperation with other countries and peoples.