B4-0415, 0430, 0464, 0486 and 0489/94

Resolution on Croatia

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia,

A.having regard to the announcement by the President of Croatia, Mr Franjo Tudjman, on 12 March 1995 during the Social Summit in Copenhagen, that he will allow the renewal of the mandate of UN troops in Croatia beyond 31 March 1995, but noting that he wants their numbers to be reduced by more than half,

B.whereas the departure of UN forces before a political solution has been accepted by all the parties to the conflict could result in resumption of the fighting and the war, thereby reducing to nought all the efforts made hitherto by the international community,

C.noting with abhorrence that fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina has recently reintensified, especially in and around Bihac and Sarajevo,

D.subscribing to the position of the Council and the Commission that the UN's mandate in Croatia must be maintained, and possibly renewed, and that relations between the European Union and Croatia should be made dependent on the adoption of this position,

E.insisting that there must be no recognition of territorial gains and that a new UN mandate must not in any way prejudice this matter,

F.convinced that any political solution must recognize the legitimate rights of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to territorial integrity and full sovereignty;

1.Welcomes the decision by the Croatian President to permit the continued presence of UN forces on the territory of Croatia but insists that efforts must be continued to find a peaceful overall solution to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia;

2.Urges the Croatian government to cooperate in ensuring that a sufficient number of UN troops remain on the territory of Croatia as their presence helps to reduce tension in the region;

3.Insists that the United Nations must continue to carry out its duties in the area but emphasizes that the substance and duration of the renewed mandate for UN forces, and the composition of these forces, must be adequate to achieve the aims defined by the UN Security Council;

4.Gives its full support to all efforts which can contribute to finding a peaceful solution in the former Yugoslavia on the basis of respect for human and minority rights, giving equal treatment to members of all ethnic and religious communities; urges all parties concerned to refrain from any action that may lead to a resurgence of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia;

5.Calls on the Council to seek, in particular, the recognition by Serbia of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina within their international borders;

6.Supports the decision by the General Affairs Council to give the Commission a negotiating brief for an economic and trade cooperation agreement with Croatia while UN troops remain on Croatian territory;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, the President, Government and Parliament of Croatia and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.