Resolution 1066 (1995) on the Situation in Some Parts of the Former Yugoslavia

Resolution 1066 (1995)[1] on the Situation in Some Parts of the Former Yugoslavia THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AT ITS 1995 SESSION 1.Major developments, both military and diplomatic, have recently altered the situation in the former Yugoslavia. Genuine negotiations on a peaceful and lasting settlement have finally become a real possibility. 2.With regard to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Assembly notes that the military operations decided upon by the United Nations and carried out by Nato and the United Nations Rapid Reaction Force, in order to guarantee the protection of Sarajevo and other United Nations safe areas, have brought the warring parties to the negotiating table. 3.It welcomes the strong initiatives taken by certain European states such as France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Spain to set up the Rapid Reaction Force, as well as the United States' diplomatic action, and while continuing to insist on the principle of intercultural co-existence throughout the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina, supports the agreed basic principles resulting from the Ministerial Conference on Bosnia-Herzegovina held in Geneva on 8 September 1995. Major efforts are at last being made to convince all sides to accept a negotiated solution, which maintains the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It calls on all parties to implement the agreed principles in good faith. 4.In case all peace efforts in the region fail, the creation of an international coalition, similar to the one set up during the Gulf War in 1990, should be considered. 5.The Assembly would welcome the accession to the Council of Europe of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as of other countries which emerged after the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, once a peace agreement has been reached and is respected. 6.The Assembly: i.condemns the attacks on, and the conquest of, the United Nations Protected Areas of Srebrenica and Zepa in Bosnia-Herzegovina; ii.vigorously condemns the violent expulsion and persecution of civilians from Srebrenica and Zepa; iii.demands information about the whereabouts of 4 000 Bosnian Muslims, who were expelled from Srebrenica and of 1 000 male Bosnian Muslims, who were detained in a football stadium near Srebrenica; iv.demands that UNHCR, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations be given access to Bosnian Serb prisoners' camps where the refugees of Srebrenica and Zepa are held; v.calls upon all parties to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia to allow the access of OSCE missions on the territories they control. Close co-operation between these missions and the Council of Europe should be established; vi.abhors the violent expulsion (ethnic cleansing) of ethnic Croatians and Muslims in the area of Banja Luka. 7.It strongly condemns all human rights violations committed since the beginning of the tragic events which devastated the area and cost the civilian population so dearly. It insists that the perpetrators of such offences be brought to justice with the fullest possible co-operation of those representing the sides concerned. Member states of the Council of Europe should co-operate in exchanging information to assist the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in carrying out its task in an efficient manner. 8.The Croatian Government should respect the agreement concluded with the United Nations on 6 August 1995 and demonstrate, by providing full information on recent events, and by admitting international observers, that it ensures the protection of basic human rights of everyone within its jurisdiction. 9.The Croatian military action led to the departure of about 150 000 Croatian Serbs, most of whom sought refuge in Serbia and Montenegro. The Croatian Government should enable a rapid return of these people to their homes and the full exercise of their property rights. 10.As regards the situation in the United Nations Protected Area Sector East (Eastern Slavonia), the Assembly calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to refrain from using third countries' territory for any kind of action, and to pursue negotiations on a peaceful settlement. 11.The response of the Croatian Government to these concerns will be an important factor in the further examination of Croatia's request for membership. 12.The Assembly calls on the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) to refrain from altering the ethnic balance in Vojvodina, Kosovo and in the regions on the Bulgarian border through the settlement of Croatian Serb refugees and to respect the rights of the ethnic minorities in the country. The positive response of the federal government, its providing of full information and its co-operation with the international community will be important for improved relations with the Council of Europe. 13.The international humanitarian organisations working on behalf of the refugees and displaced persons throughout the former Yugoslavia should be given increased support. An international conference, aimed at co-ordinating the efforts of governments and non-governmental organisations, should be organised. 14.The Assembly calls on the European Union to extend TEMPUS and PHARE funding to education and other projects in Bosnia-Herzegovina. 15.In the field of the media, the Assembly expresses its concern at restrictions on pluralism and independence. It calls for support for a free and independent media throughout all parts of the former Yugoslavia affected by the conflict and in particular invites governments to help fund AIM (Alternative Information Network) in the context of the Council of Europe's confidence-building measures. 16.Once negotiations on a peaceful solution have produced some real progress, the Council of Europe should make a major contribution to reconstruction in the fields of its expertise. The Secretary General should make proposals for such a contribution now, and with regard to the following principles: i.all parts of the former Yugoslavia affected by the conflict should be involved in the reconstruction process; ii.international support should avoid the perpetuation of ethnic division or cultural differences; iii.priority aspects should be identified in each field; iv.reconstruction must be sustainable; v.the return of cultural property should be included in any global peace plan; vi.the cultural sector should be fully integrated into all levels of planning. 17.For its part, the Assembly will continue to give active support to on-the-spot monitoring of the situation in the fields of human rights and other humanitarian issues, culture, education and the media.

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[1]Assembly debate on 27 September 1995 (28th Sitting) (see Doc. 7395, report of the Political Affairs Committee, rapporteurs: MM. Blœtzer and van der Linden; Doc. 7401, opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education, rapporteur: Mrs Fischer; and Doc. 7397, opinion of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography, rapporteur: Mr Iwin´ski).
Text adopted by the Assembly on 27 September 1995 (28th Sitting).