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Parliamentary question from MEP Bart STAES (European Free Alliance) on the plenary session of the European Parliament on the 13^th of February 2001.

 

MEP Bart STAES : " The Parliament of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia voted an amnesty law recently for conscientious objectors ans deserters of the Yugoslav Army and for prisoners convicted for criminal acts against the army or for hostile activity.

From explanations of the Yugoslav Justice Minister Moncilo Grubac at January 9^th we learned that this amnesty law isn't appropriate for persons convicted for terrorism. It means that about 700 Albanian Kosovarian prisoners in Serbia cannot have amnesty, because they were convicted for "terrorism".  And this in spite of the promise of the Yugoslav Foreign Affairs Minister Goran Svilanovic in Washington recently to release the Albanian prisoners and in spite of similar promises of President Kostunica for the attention of the E.U.

Therefore I would like to ask these questions :

1.     Is the Council thinking of reacting disapprovingly on this matter? If not, why not?

2.     Which measures the Council will take to exert pressure on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to keep the official promises for the release of all Albanian political prisoners? "

Mr. Kinnock, E.C. : " The honourable Member is correct in stating that the proposed amnesty law, wich is still only a proposal before both the Serbian Parliament and the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, will not cover anyone convicted of offences considered to be acts of terrorism. The European Union has already repeatedly called for the release of all Kosovo Albanian prisoners. The EU ministerial troika which visited Belgrade on 8 February also expressed concern at the fact that the proposed amnesty law will not cover all those convicted of political offences by the Milosevic regime.

The Commission has been fully involved in these initiatives, and the European Parliament's ad hoc delegation, which visited from 8 to 10 February, also raised this issue in the relevant quarters. The Serbian and federal authorities have indicated their intention to urgently re-examine the cases of those not covered by the law, particularly to ascertain whether the convictions are sound or not. As of today, the prisoners have still, regrettably, not been released. The EU will keep up the pressure to ensure that they are. "

MEP Bart STAES : " I thank the commissioner for the reply and for the encouraging words, but nevertheless we have to know that we are in a transition period, the transition period of aid from the European Union for Serbia, the transition period between temporary help and more structural help. I think it's time now to make high demands. The scepticism of the Albanians in Kosova regarding the Kostunica regime is very great. People are a little bit desperate. There were hungerstrikes. People want to see a real progress now. As I've understood the Commission has an adviser in the direct entourage of Mr. Kostunica, somebody indeed who has won his spurs  already in the entourage of the president of Montenegro. Nevertheless I would ask to the Commission to use the transition period  to say : look, we don't continue the aid unless you solve this urgent problem. "

Mr. Kinnock, E.C. : " I certainly understand the instincts of and the rationale offered by Mr. Staes, and not for the first time. I can give him the assurance that all influences and all means of representation are being employed in the most forceful possible way in order to try and secure the outcome that the Commission, the Union generally and Members of this House - including Mr. Staes - want and that would be consistent with humane and just treatment.

The Commission, however, is not disposed, certainly at this juncture, to contemplate the possibility of sanctions of various kinds, including the ones suggested by the honourable Member, simply because the Commission is making its contribution and its commitment on behalf of the Union in full knowledge of the dire needs of people and organisations in that area. We very much hope that by using the means that are currently being employed we will, without great delay, secure the outcomes which will serve the interests of humanity and be consistent with the views continually expressed by the Union, the Commission and this House. "