WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1571/98 by Leonie van BLADEL to the Council. Autonomy in Kosovo
18. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 13/45 The European Union urged the Government of Guatemala to continue to take all steps necessary to ensure a full investigation of the murder in order to bring those responsible to justice and also called upon the Government of Guatemala to support the work of the Truth Commissioní and to take all appropriate measures to ensure the safety of its members. At present, the EU continues to monitor the development of the peace process and the human rights situation in Guatemala in view of the second Consultative Group Meeting scheduled for the autumn of 1998. (1999/C 13/064) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1571/98 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council (25 May 1998) Subject: Autonomy in Kosovo The most important instruments for achieving autonomy in Kosovo, however extensive or limited it may be, are Kosovoís parliament and government. Neither is functioning, however, because the Albanian parties boycotted the parliamentary elections on the ground that they are seeking independence. The parliament (in which the Albanian parties would, moreover, have an absolute majority) is nonetheless an obvious, democratic platform for the discussion of the territoryís future. It is also a platform that enables all groups of Kosovo inhabitants to participate in this debate. On the basis of a mandate issued by the parliament the government can conduct negotiations with the Serbian authorities (if necessary, with international mediation). Does the Council not feel that, as independence is not a realistic option, a Kosovo parliament elected in free and fair elections is the most democratic and also the most obvious platform for discussing the territoryís future? Is the Council prepared to urge the Serbian authorities to hold elections to the Kosovo parliament at the earliest opportunity and under international supervision? Will the Council also urge all the parties involved to participate actively in these elections? Reply (24 September 1998) The Council is gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation in Kosovo. In this context it should be noted that, long before the outbreak of violence and the emergence of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the international community had impressed upon the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Serbian leaderships the importance to address the untenable situation which had developed in Kosovo since 1990 when the autonomous status of the Province had been rescinded. The Councilís position on the status of the region has been made clear on several occasions, and is shared by the rest of the international community: neither the status quo nor independence are acceptable, but an enhanced status which would include a substantial amount of self- government for the region. It is evident that the FRY and Serbian leaderships have to shoulder the overwhelming share of the responsibility for the crisis in Kosovo. The majority of the Albanian leadership has decided to boycott the official elections in Kosovo precisely because under the Serb constitution the powers of the Kosovo parliament are more or less symbolic. Therefore, the option envisaged by the Honourable Member seems not a viable option under present circumstances. But it goes without saying that in the course of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo the question of establishment of a functionning self-administration including a Parliamentary dimension will be crucial. In the present situation, the EU focuses its efforts on stopping the violent repression and putting pressure on both parties to engage in such a political process. To achieve this goal, the Union has already decided on a number of sanctions against Serbia/the FRY