B3-1440, 1501 and 1515/93

Resolution on deserters from the armed forces of states in former Yugoslavia

The European Parliament,

A.aware that among the hundreds of thousands of refugees from former Yugoslavia there are many deserters and draft evaders,

B.alarmed at reports that recruitment and conscription are deliberately used as a measure against persons who are critical of the government and that conscription also affects members of ethnic groups such as the Albanians of Kosovo and the Hungarians of Vojvodina, as well as some, such as Roma gypsies, who do not even possess citizenship of the country,

C.concerned at reports that deserters and draft evaders who have taken refuge in Member States of the Community face deportation back to their country of origin where they would risk severe repercussions, in flagrant violation of the European Convention on Human Rights,

D.aware that the Danish Directorate for Immigration has decided that desertion from, or evading conscription into, the Serb and Montenegrin armed forces are not grounds for granting asylum,

E.recalling the statement of the UNCHR that anybody refusing to take part in 'an internationally condemned war action' is deserving of 'international protection',

F.regarding the encouragement of draft evasion and desertion from the Serbian and Montenegrin armed forces as in accordance with the policy pursued by the Community and its Member States towards the aggressive policies of Serbia and Montenegro,

G.having regard to the fact that draft evaders and deserters, given their response to the international community's appeal for peace, could play an important role in the reconstruction of post-war Yugoslavia,

1.Calls on the international community to develop standards to protect deserters and draft evaders who do not wish to take part in nationalist wars which it has unequivocally condemned;

2.Calls on the Council and the Member States to consider what arrangements might be made to give sanctuary to the deserters and conscientious objectors not serving in the various armed forces fighting on the territory of former Yugoslavia;

3.Calls on the Member States to provide deserters and draft evaders from the former Yugoslavia with a legal status instead of allowing them to be deported back;

4.Urges the Danish Minister of the Interior to make available to deserters and draft evaders from the Serb and Montenegrin armed forces permission to stay until they can return safely;

5.Calls on all Member States to weaken the military power of the aggressors in former Yugoslavia by encouraging desertion and draft evasion by making clear that they will grant asylum to deserters and draft evaders from the armed forces of aggressor states;

6.Calls on the Member States and the Commission to develop programmes and projects which seek to provide possibilities for training or further education for these deserters and draft evaders;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the UNCHR, the President of the Folketing and the Danish Refugee Appeals Board.