EP calls for immediate indictment of Belgrade authorities and organisation of airlifts

08/05/1999 (Agence Europe)

By adopting a joint resolution by the Socialist, EPP, Union for Europe, Liberal, Radical Alliance groups and by Mr.Carnero Gonzalez, Spanish Member of the United Left, the European Parliament once more reaffirmed its condemnation of President Milosevic's policy of ethnic cleansing and its support for the initiatives of Kofi Annan and the European Council. In addition, while insisting on Kosovo's territorial integrity, Parliament called on: - the EU Council to "support the autonomy of Montenegro"; - the Council and Commission to "give active support to those inside the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia who are willing to seek a negotiated settlement to the conflict and bring about a process of democratic reform"; - Member States to "grant deserters from the FRY army and to conscientious objectors temporary residence in the EU"

Plenary also approved (188 in favour, 183 against and 29 abstentions) an amendment tabled by Messrs. Dupuis and Dell'Alba, for the Radical Alliance, stating that "apart from the many abuses committed, the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands of Kosovars constitutes a sufficient basis - under the Statutes of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia and, in particular, Articles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 thereof - for immediate indictment of the highest political and military authorities in Belgrade, starting with Slobodan Milosevic." Furthermore, the EP approved (197 in favour, 181 against and 30 abstentions) an amendment tabled by Hadar Cars, urging Member States to "prepare large-scale airlifts, that may be needed to transport large numbers of people temporarily away from the region" (Parliament emphasised that this hosting of refugees in EU countries has to be "exceptional and temporary"). The EP did, however, reject two amendments by Swedish Liberal Mr. Cars approving, on the one hand, prepara

tions for sending in ground troops and, on the other, suggesting the setting up of an international protectorate in Kosovo, and an amendment tabled by the Greens calling on the EU Council to exert strong pressure on NATO to stop the use of weapons with depleted uranium in Kosovo.