B4-0110, 0119, 0137, 0153 and 0161/94

Resolution on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina

The European Parliament,

-recalling its previous resolutions on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina,

A.appalled by the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina which has deteriorated considerably in the past few weeks, because of the isolation of Sarajevo and other protected areas, including the cutting off of water and electricity supplies, of attacks against the civilian population of Sarajevo, Bihac and other areas, and of the increase in ethnic cleansing in the territories occupied by the Bosnian Serbs,

B.having regard to the risk of a new escalation of military activity in Bosnia-Herzegovina,

C.having regard to the peace plan submitted by the Contact Group for Bosnia-Herzegovina (which includes three Member States of the European Union), and whereas this peace plan has been rejected by the Bosnian Serbs; noting the failure of the international community to authorize any effective measures to counter the renewal of aggression following the rejection of the peace plan by the Bosnian Serbs,

D.whereas the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has declared that it will apply a full embargo against the Bosnian Serbs and will accept the presence, on the border between Serbia and Bosnia, of 130-150 humanitarian observers,

E.whereas the European Union is now assuring the administration of the city of Mostar, seeking the restoration of a multicultural society in the city; whereas these efforts are severely threatened by attacks of Bosnian Croat origin,

F.whereas Bosnia-Herzegovina is about to enter the third winter of war, during which the population will be fully dependent on humanitarian aid to survive; whereas UNHCR is reported to be considering a major reduction in its financial commitments for the relief effort,

G.whereas the United Nations Security Council has decided to lift parts of the embargo against Belgrade,

1.Notes the efforts of the Contact Group to reach a peaceful solution of the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina by the submission of its peace plan; strongly denounces the rejection of the peace plan by the Bosnian Serbs and the resumption of attacks on the civilian population of Sarajevo, Bihac and other protected areas, the isolation of Sarajevo and the stepping up of the process of ethnic cleansing which has led to thousands of people being forced to leave their homes;

2.Notes the commitment of the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to apply a full embargo against the Bosnian Serbs and welcomes its willingness to accept the deployment of observers to guarantee this embargo and insists that the Belgrade government allow them to carry out their duties in full; takes the view, however, that the total number of observers, as well as their mandate and methods (including frequent air surveillance), must be appropriate to guarantee the effective control of the borders between Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;

3.Takes the view that a gradual lifting of the embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia could be envisaged, on condition that the Yugoslav authorities fully respect and cooperate in the application of the embargo against the Bosnian Serbs; is of the opinion that the gradual lifting of the sanctions against the Belgrade government should also take account of the effective recognition of the sovereignty of and respect for the frontiers with all neighbouring states;

4.Calls on the Contact Group, NATO and the UN Security Council to make their policy of protected areas and exclusion zones fully consistent with the proposals set out in the peace plan; calls further on the Contact Group, NATO and the UN Security Council to consider the possibilities and means which would allow the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina to implement its right of self-defence as laid down in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter;

5.Pays tribute to the courage of the people of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina in maintaining a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society under such serious attacks; calls on the European Union to support all further efforts in pursuit of the aim of restoring multi-ethnicity, including the right to return for refugees and displaced persons;

6.Requests the European Union to assist the Republic of Bosnia by:

-assisting its lawful authorities to establish and maintain contacts with the international community,

-discharging its duties as Administrator in the best possible way, as in the case of Mostar,

-opening the PHARE and TEMPUS programmes to it,

-encouraging cooperation between Croats and Bosnians through political means;

7.Warns once again that the success of aggression in Bosnia-Herzegovina will encourage similar outrages elsewhere and make the establishment of peace and security on the borders of the EU more difficult;

8.Urges the European Union to take all the requisite steps to intensify and increase the humanitarian aid measures for the suffering population of Bosnia-Herzegovina during the coming winter and insists that all measures be taken to implement its efforts;

9.Decides to send a delegation to the opening of the Parliament of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina on 15 October 1994, which will also visit Mostar and Tuzla;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Contact Group, the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Secretary General of NATO, the Secretary General of the CSCE, and to the Governments of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the neighbouring states.