Joint resolution replacing B3-1119, 1216, 1217, 1218, 1220, 1222 and 1223/91

The European Parliament,

A. deeply disturbed at the violence in Slovenia and elsewhere in Yugoslavia and deploring the tragic loss of life, the injuries and the destruction it has caused,

B. noting that according to Yugoslavia's present constitution, the federation consists of sovereign nations which possess the right to self-determination, including the right to secession,

C. drawing attention to the fact that, in signing the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris, all European states have pledged themselves to respect human rights and the rights of peoples to choose for themselves their form of government;

D. welcoming the move by the Twelve to activate for the first time the crisis mechanism recently established within the CSCE for resolving conflicts in Europe,

E. recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in Yugoslavia, most recently its resolution of 16 May 1991,

1. Condemns the use of force in Slovenia by the Yugoslav federal army, apparently in defiance of the federal authorities;

2. Calls on all parties to refrain from all further use of force;

3. Welcomes the efforts made by the European Community to promote peace, and believes that the agreement reached at Brioni on 7 July, if it is respected by all the parties concerned, can provide time for the peaceful settlement of the conflicts;

4. Insists that the Yugoslav federal army must return its troops to barracks immediately; calls on the federal authorities to ensure this happens and on all other parties not to impede such a withdrawal;

5. Hopes that the election of Stipe Mesic to the presidency may constitute a starting point for restoring mutual confidence;

6. Considers it essential for all parties concerned to enter into further negotiations - with the assistance of the European and international community, if requested by all parties - to establish viable political structures with a view to ensuring the greatest possible cooperation between the peoples of Yugoslavia;

7. Reiterates its view that, as confirmed in the federal constitution, the constituent republics and autonomous provinces of Yugoslavia have the right to determine their own future in a peaceful and democratic manner; believes, however, that each republic has an absolute responsibility to use only peaceful and democratic means to seek constitutional change and must fully respect CSCE obligations, including those relating to human rights, particularly the rights of minorities and nationalities, and the respect for international and internal frontiers;

8. Welcomes the willingness of the governments of Slovenia and Croatia to suspend the implementation of their unilateral declarations of independence for three months as foreseen in the Brioni agreement and calls on all parties concerned to use this time to conclude negotiations;

9. Calls on the authorities in Serbia no longer to resist efforts to find an agreement on the new institutions of Yugoslavia and to abandon this centralist approach in the light of the new political situation;

10. Recognizes the democratic legitimacy, also within the framework of Yugoslavia, of the Presidents, Parliaments and Governments of Slovenia and Croatia, elected in free, peaceful and democratic elections in April 1990 in accordance with Yugoslav, Slovene and Croatian law, and reiterates its opposition to the use of armed force against such authorities;

11. Supports all efforts, including those by the European Community and the CSCE, to help secure the restoration of peace in Yugoslavia; stresses the importance of the use of the recently developed CSCE emergency mechanism for dealing with crises; believes these efforts must be pursued earnestly and vigorously;

12. Supports the decision of the Council to suspend economic and financial aid to Yugoslavia and calls on the Commission, Council, EPC and the governments of the Member States, to make clear that continued interference of the Yugoslav federal army in the political crisis will lead to the suspension of all forms of assistance and cooperation - including diplomatic relations - with federal Yugoslavia; urges them to help in whatever way may be possible in the restoration of peace and democratic order;

13. Believes that there must be an immediate halt to the delivery of weapons and arms to all parties in Yugoslavia;

14. Expresses its deep concern at the implications of the current crisis in Yugoslavia for the vital transport links between Greece and the other Member States of the Community and calls on the Commission to draw up an emergency plan to secure alternative transport links, including an airbridge, if the crisis is not resolved in the very near future;

15. Instructs its President to organize, together with the Political Affairs Committee and the Delegation for Relations with Yugoslavia, appropriate contacts to ensure that all possibilities for an amicable settlement are fully considered;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, European Political Cooperation, the Parliaments of the Member States, the Federal Governments and the governments of the constituent republics of Yugoslavia.