EP calls on EU to link easing of sanctions against the Fry to gesture from Belgrade in favour of Kosovar political prisoners

21/02/2000 (Agence Europe)

The EU Council ought to make the easing of the Union's sanctions against the Fry dependent on an opening on the part of Belgrade on the issue of the "thousands of Kosovar political prisoners" held in Serbia, said the European Parliament on Thursday when, during its afternoon's emergency debates, and following the recent incidents in Mitrovica, it adopted a resolution tabled by the EPP, Socialist, Liberal and Green groups. According to Parliament, the Council should take a "decisive" initiative to secure the release of these prisoners, and especially Flora Brovina, Kosovar Albanian doctor, who was sentenced "without reason" to twelve years in prison by the court of the Serb city of Nis (Parliament notes that, according to the latest news, Dr. Brovina, who is in bad health, is being held in the "prison-hospital" of Pozhaverac, in Serbia). Furthermore, Parliament calls on the EU to make its aid to the reconstruction of Kosovo dependent on the respect of fundamental rights and the rights of minorities, and conde

mns the "first direct attack against Kfor troops", recently perpetrated by snipers in Mitrovica. This last passage of the resolution led the member of the Bonino List, Mr. Dupuis, to make the ironical remark that he hoped that Parliament was not a "bird of ill omen" and who, moreover, said that German Social-Democrat Mr. Sakellariou had prevented him and his group (the technical group of independent MEPs) from co-signing this draft resolution. The Socialist Group unanimously decided that it would not sign a draft resolution to which the members sitting with the group to which Mr. Le Pen or other far-right members subscribed, replied Mr. Sakellariou, who, as to substance, wondered whether it was realistic to imagine that a multiethnic society could develop "in a protectorate" as is, according to him, currently the case in Kosovo. There is not only one truth in Kosovo, exclaimed the Belgian Green, Mr. Staes, whereas Mr. Posselt (German, EPP) considered that NATO deserved the "Sakharov Prize" from the European

Parliament for the role it has played in the conflict in Kosovo. Finally, German Christian-Democrat Mrs. Pack, head of the EP delegation for relations with South Eastern Europe, said that Mitrovica had not to remain divided (we have already had enough divided cities in Europe, she said) and that the aggressors of Kfor had not to go unpunished. Denouncing the EU Council's indifference regarding the fate of the Kosovar prisoners, Mrs. Pack exclaimed: "if the members of the Council had children, brothers or fathers among these prisoners, they would certainly already have done something!". "I have recently been to Pristina and wanted to meet three students I have known for a long time, without finding them, but I know where they are, in Serb prisons where they are being held whereas they have done absolutely nothing wrong", Doris Pack stated indignantly.