European Parliament resolution on the situation of the Serb and other national minorities in Kosovo
7. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 189/235 Thursday 18 November 1999 6. Calls on the Federal Court of Pennsylvania to commute the death sentence passed on Mumia Abu Jamal and instructs its delegation for relations with the USA to raise the issue at its next meeting with the US parliamentary representatives; Calls on the members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor George Bush Jr to 7. grant clemency to Larry Robinson and commute his sentence; 8. Appeals to the Supreme Court of the United States to meet its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to abolish capital punishment for crimes committed by minors; Calls on the Council to consider the possibility of making the abolition of capital punishment an 9. integral part of the human rights clause when negotiating agreements with third countries; 10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the President of the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Congress and Administration of the USA, the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, the Federal Court of Pennsylvania, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Governor of the State of Texas and the Florida Supreme Court. 9. Human rights: Respect for Serbs and other minority groups in Kosovo B5-0270, 0275, 0281, 0298 and 0305/1999 European Parliament resolution on the situation of the Serb and other national minorities in Kosovo The European Parliament, 1 having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia, 1 having regard to the conclusions of the Presidency of the European Council in Cologne on 3 and 4 June 1999, 1 having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999), the full withdrawal of all Serb security forces, the end of NATO’s air campaign, as well as the development of the Kosovo International Security Force (KFOR) and the setting up of the UNMIK (UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo), 1 having regard to the Military Technical Agreement between KFOR and the governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia, agreed on 9 June 1999, 1 having regard to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe signed by the Council on 10 June 1999, 1 having regard to the Statement by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the demilitar- isation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) of 23 September 1999, 1 having regard to the Statement by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on 4 November 1999 concerning the ongoing violence in Kosovo, A. deeply concerned about the recent acts of violence against the Serb and Roma population of Kosovo, in particular about the attacks on the convoy of 155 Serbs, organised by the UNHCR on 27 October 1999 in Pec, B. deeply concerned about the shooting attack against Mr Momcilo Trajkovic, President of the ‘Kosovo Serbian Residence Movement’ and co-chairman of the Serbian National Council, on 31 October 1999 in his home in Pristina, C. deeply concerned about the murder of the Bulgarian UN official Valentin Krumov in Pristina on 12 October 1999, C 189/236 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 7. 7. 2000 Thursday 18 November 1999 D. alarmed by the conduct of the leadership of the former KLA which battled for Kosovo’s independence from Yugoslavia, creating faits accomplis without regard to UNMIK’s legal authority and the values which were the proclaimed basis of both NATO operations and the UN mission, E. F. pointing out that in spite of the recently signed agreement the former KLA has not completed its disarmament and that in many parts of Kosovo the self-proclaimed Provisional Government is inter- fering with and often hindering, the work of UNMIK administrators, deeply concerned about continued armed aggression against KFOR members, including shooting against KFOR soldiers on duty, and deeply concerned about the dangerous situation in which repre- sentatives of international organisations such as the UN and OSCE and of NGOs are trying to carry out their work and help to re-establish a peaceful Kosovo, G. taking into consideration that until today it has not been possible to set up a legal provisional interim government, H. recalling that the European Union’s strong military, political, economic and financial commitment in the province is based on a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo, I. stressing that the number of Serbs and other minorities living in Kosovo is rapidly decreasing because of the climate of intimidation that makes it impossible to create the conditions for a real dialogue between the various ethnic groups; Strongly condemns the continued violence against ethnic and religious minorities, political figures 1. and representatives of any international organisation; 2. Firmly condemns the recent acts of violence against the Serb population in Kosovo and calls on the leaders of the Kosovo Albanian community to fully respect UN resolution 1244, condemn those acts of violence, use their influence and leadership to work with KFOR and UNMIK to stamp out the violence and intimidation in Kosovo, collaborate with the inquiries of UN authorities and distance themselves clearly from such actions; Expresses its understanding for the mourning of the Albanian population of Kosovo for their victims, 3. but cannot accept this as a pretext for the ongoing killings, abductions, detentions, abuse of power, har- assment, intimidation, arson, looting, destruction of property and take-over of houses by that part of the population of Kosovo; Stresses that all Kosovars 1 irrespective of their ethnic origin 1 must be able to stay in and return to 4. Kosovo, and live there in peace without harassment or intimidation of any kind; Calls on the leadership of the former KLA to respect the European values and principles and to 5. ensure that the oppressed of the past will not become the oppressors of today; Calls upon the part of the population which is still armed to stop their aggressions and to contribute 6. to a peaceful reconstruction of their homeland, since this cannot be the task of the international organisa- tions alone; Urges all parties concerned to re-establish the dialogue between all political forces in Kosovo and 7. stop any further intimidation of political opponents; Urges ethnic Albanian leaders to cooperate fully with UNMIK and the Kosovo Transitional Council 8. with a view to facilitating the reconstruction process and the rebuilding of civil society; 7. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 189/237 Thursday 18 November 1999 9. Expresses its strongest support to the UN envoy to Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, in his undertakings to establish as soon as possible a legal interim government in which all political groups of Kosovo should be represented, and asks him, though only in the event that no local representative can be found, to name a representative of UNMIK as interim mayor; Is of the opinion that the European Union should reconsider its funding for reconstruction work in 10. Kosovo if the human rights situation of all the inhabitants of the province does not improve drastically; Urges the Commission and the Task Force for Reconstruction to give preference, with the exception 11. of humanitarian assistance, to reconstruction projects in those municipalities that are trying to favour a climate of cooperation among the different ethnic groups, opposing expulsions and preventing violence; Expresses its solidarity with all representatives of international organisations and NGOs who are 12. actively contributing to the reconstruction of Kosovo, often in very difficult and dangerous circumstances; Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the OSCE, KFOR 13. and the Secretary General of the UN. 10. Human rights: Alexander Nikitin B5-0290, 0291, 0295 and 0302/1999 European Parliament resolution on the forthcoming trial of Alexander Nikitin The European Parliament, 1 having regard to its resolutions of 16 November 1995 (1), 15 February 1996 (2) and 18 September 1996 (3) on the harassment of the Bellona Foundation, the arrest of Alexandr Nikitin and the case of Alexandr Nikitin respectively, 1 having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and the Russian Constitution, particu- larly Articles 15(3), 54 and 123(3) thereof, A. B. expressing its satisfaction that the case of Alexandr Nikitin is being tried by a civilian judge at the St Petersburg City Court, understanding the importance of this case to the development of the rule of law in the new demo- cratic Russia, C. whereas Mr Nikitin is still required not to leave the city, D. whereas Mr Nikitin is, for the eighth time, being charged with treason; whereas the new indictment has not been made available to him before the trial, E. whereas, on 26 July 1999, Mr Nikitin appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to remedy the violations of his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights; Asks the Russian authorities to guarantee Alexandr Nikitin an impartial and public trial based on the 1. principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Russian Constitution; Urges the Russian authorities to give Alexandr Nikitin full access to the indictment and to the legal 2. foundation of the charges against him; (1) OJ C 323, 4. 12. 1995, p. 112. (2) OJ C 65, 4. 3. 1996, p. 162. (3) OJ C 320, 28. 10. 1996, p. 196