European Parliament resolution on multi-ethnic violence in Mitroviæa, the situation of Albanian Kosovar prisoners in Serbia and, in particular, the case of Flora Brovina
29. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 339/273 13. Human rights: Violence between ethnic groups in Mitrovic´a; Albanian Koso- var prisoners in Serbia, notably the plight of Mrs Flora Brovina Thursday 17 February 2000 B5-0141, 0150, 0158 and 0176/2000 European Parliament resolution on multi-ethnic violence in Mitrovic´ a, the situation of Albanian Kosovar prisoners in Serbia and, in particular, the case of Flora Brovina The European Parliament, having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia, in particular its resolution of 22 July 1999 (1), having regard to its resolution of 16 September 1999 (2) on the detainment of Albanian Kosovar prisoners in Serbia, having regard to the UN Security Council resolution of 10 June 1999, recalling the statement of 13 January 2000 of its Delegation for Relations with South-East Europe on the sentencing of Ms Flora Brovina in Serbia, A. deeply concerned by recent events in the Mitrovic´a region, where, after a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at a KFOR-escorted UNHCR bus carrying Serb civilians, killing two passengers and injuring three, violent clashes took place between the Albanian and Serb populations that could hardly be controlled by the international military contingent, B. whereas KFOR evacuated some 500 people, in particular Albanian Kosovar families, following the violent clashes that broke out after the attack on the bus, C. noting the deepening division of the city and the surrounding suburbs along ethnic lines, D. pointing out the plight of the Serb minority, which is living in dire straits in enclaves defended by KFOR, with no possibility to move freely, E. whereas the Council has not yet responded to the call made by Parliament for a discussion of the question of Albanian Kosovar political prisoners in Serbia, F. 1. 2. 3. shocked and appalled by reports of the unfounded sentencing of Ms Flora Brovina, an Albanian Koso- var doctor, to twelve years’ imprisonment, by a court in the Serbian city of Nis, Condemns strongly the outbreak of violence in Mitrovic´a by all opposing groups in the city; Regrets that the latest wave of violence has resulted in a number of victims on all sides; Condemns the first direct assault on KFOR troops by snipers in Mitrovic´a; Expresses once again its grave concern over the situation of thousands of Albanian Kosovar detainees 4. imprisoned in appalling conditions in Serbia; Urges the Council to take a new, decisive initiative with a view to exerting strong pressure on the 5. Belgrade authorities and obtaining the release of Albanian Kosovar political prisoners; Appeals to the Serbian government to immediately release Ms Brovina, who, according to the latest 6. news, is being held prisoner in the prison hospital at Pozarevac in Serbia, where she is in a poor state of health; (1) OJ C 301, 18. 10. 1999, p. 30. (2) Minutes of that Sitting, Part II, Item 16. C 339/274 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 2000 Thursday 17 February 2000 7. Urges all sides involved to cease immediately all acts of aggression and to comply with Regulation 2000/4, which prohibits incitement to national, racial, religious or ethnic hatred, discord or intolerance, as a key element for a democratic society in which civil discussions and political debates must take place in a responsible and non-violent manner; Calls on both parties to cooperate fully with UNMIK in order to set up an effective power-sharing 8. administration capable of facilitating reconstruction activities and a return to daily life; Gives its full support to the taking of appropriate action by KFOR in response to criminal activity 9. against any citizens of Kosovo and to protect civilians who belong to ethnic minorities; Calls on the Council and the Member States to redouble their efforts to provide the necessary man- 10. power and resources for the United Nations police and for the establishment of the judiciary; 11. Urges, in this respect, the Council and the Commission to make EU support conditional, favouring reconstruction projects in those parts of Kosovo where human and minority rights are fully respected and democratic principles guaranteed; 12. Calls on the Council to link the softening of sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the adoption of a more conciliatory approach by the Belgrade authorities on the issue of the Albanian Kosovar political prisoners held in Serbia; 13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the authorities of Serbia and of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the UN Repre- sentative in Kosovo, the OSCE and the International Red Cross. 14. Human rights: Press freedom in Angola B5-0151, 0160, 0165, 0166 and 0178/2000 European Parliament resolution on press freedom in Angola The European Parliament, having regard to the previous declarations of the EU on Angola, having regard to the UN declaration on human rights and the UN declaration on human rights defen- ders adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, A. noting that since January 1999 some 20 journalists, mainly from the independent media, have been detained and questioned concerning alleged defamation and/or crimes against the security of the state, B. noting the pending trial of journalist and human rights defender Rafael Marques de Morais for defa- mation of President Eduardo dos Santos, together with two other journalists, Joaquim Manual Aguiar dos Santos and António José Freitas de Jesus Correia, who have been charged with defamation in unrelated, yet similar cases, C. shocked by the remarks made on 19 January 2000 during a parliamentary debate on press freedom and freedom of expression in Angola by a senior MPLA (Angolan People’s Liberation Movement) Member of Parliament, Mr Mendes de Carvalho, suggesting that Mr Marques would not live to the age of 40 if he kept writing critically about the Angolan government, D. whereas the leading institutions of Angola have not to date seen fit to dissociate themselves from these unacceptable remarks which represent a threat to the life of Mr Marques as well as a serious attack on press freedom and freedom of expression in Angola,