1. The break-up of former Yugoslavia, as the result of nationalistic factors from all sides involved in conflict, has left many unsolved issues that in actual circumstances are coming more intensively into the scene at this part of Balkan. One of unsolved problems is Albanian question in Kosova, which in long term stability in the region can provoke escalations, with uncontrolled conflicts that can be spread out of Kosova to other Balkan countries. Albanians are nation, autochthon in the region since thousands years, especially in FYROM (Macedonia), Serbia, Montenegro (Federal republic of Yugoslavia). The fundamental freedoms of Albanians in all these countries are in danger.

Kosova

2. The international community expressed many times its relief about fragile peace in former Yugoslavia, as the result of the peace accord signed by parties in conflict (Dayton Peace Agreement) after years of the bloodiest war in modern Europe. This agreement is again the matter of question, because the nationalism still remains in the whole region. The Kosova issue has not been incorporated into the Dayton Peace Agreement or in any other agreements, including the initiatives of European officials. That's why the question of Kosova is increasing it's danger, while passing unnoticed on international scene. Albanians are ninety per cent of population - majority - in Kosova. The everyday life of Albanians is endangered by the repression of Serb authorities, or well known 'Belgrade regime'. So far, since the break-up of former Yugoslavia, the Albanians are trying to find a peaceful solution. What is to be worried now, are some tendencies of radicalization of the general situation in Kosova. Recently, a terrorist

actions in Kosova have deteriorated the very fragile peace.

3. At the end of January 1997, after a spate of terrorist attacks in Kosova, there have been 18 ethnic Albanians out of approximately 100 people arrested. They were charged with accusation of a conspiracy of these attacks. Several NGOs in Kosova reported that the accused have been tortured and forced by police to sign the confession. The reports also show that defendants were denied to meet their clients, that the rules of free and fair trial were not respected. The Transnational Radical Party condemns all acts of terrorism which have been committed in Kosova, however joins the request of the European Union for facilitating an independent institution such as the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the former Yugoslavia, to study the cases and to monitor the situation closely, taking into account the criticism raised against court and police. Such unfair, nondemocratic court, whose result is the condemnation of these 18 Albanians, represents a dangerous precedent and could provoke more terrorist actions

from all sides.

4. In April, while Albanians in Kosova suffered large abuses, the European Union granted Yugoslavia the preferential trade status. Such concessions to President Milosevic demonstrate the international community's indifference to human rights violations. Incidents of torture and political trials after the agreement with the EU are evidence that the policy of positive encouragement has not stopped Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic from committing abuses. 5. European Union has promised to open the EU Office of Information in Prishtina; although this idea has been also agreed at the EU Council of Ministers, it has been left behind. Another idea was to hold the International Conference on Kosova to find the peaceful solution, which has been raised at some European officials some time ago. All these initiatives are left on the paper, without further steps to realize them. With hundreds of arbitrary arrests from Serb regime, dozens of mysterious killings of Albanians, Kosova remains explosive area with the radic

alization of general situation. When we consider also hundreds of thousands expelled workers in Albanian majority since the supremacy of autonomy, the very beginning of the break-up of former Yugoslavia, we have a clear notion about the danger for peace, democracy and fundamental rights of all Albanians. The actual frustration of Albanians in Kosova for their future is increasing, because the international community has failed in finding the best way to put all parties in dialogue; what it has done are the concessions to Belgrade, without preconditions concerning the Kosova issue. On the other hand it is the NGO that takes the initiative to put the parties on dialogue, with a little progress. Let's remind that the agreement on education in Kosova signed last year is still only on the paper, due to Serb nonwilignes to fulfil it. The education in Kosova remains in danger, the studies are organized in semi illegal way.

6. All in all, the apartheid methods, in health, education, and other fields are still what the Serb authorities consider as the solution for the Albanians in Kosova. The latest visit of Serbian President Milosevic in Kosova, with his ultranationalistic statement that (I quote) "We, the Serbs are not going to make any concessions with Albanians" (end of quote) has again minimized the means to find the peaceful solution. Kosova, by the way, remains to be one of the biggest fields of concentration of military equipment in Europe per capita. The peace is in danger, we have to reflect upon all peaceful methods for the solution, we have to react now, not leaving the Kosova issue for tomorrow; the case of Bosnia has enough taught us.

7. The Kosova issue must be resolved by granting the right to self-determination to the people. Both International Covenants (art. 1.) recognise the right of all people to determine its own future in a democratic fashion. This does not necessarily mean independence. A political settlement ranging from far-reaching to a republic in confederation with Yugoslavia seems at this time the most longlasting and realistic solution.

8. The Transnational Radical Party raise again the need of organizing the international conference on Kosova, organized by the European Union and United Nations, where all the contest issue including the status of Kosova could be negotiated without preconditions between Serbian regime and the representatives of the Albanian majority, under auspices of a third party (UN). We therefore call on this Sub-Commission to recommend urgently this initiative, before the chance to find the peaceful solution disappears.

Macedonia

9. Another subject the TRP would like to address this Sub-Commission is the critical situation of Albanians in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).The Albanians constitute at least 25% and perhaps up to 40% of the population in FYROM. Before the break-up of Yugoslavia the Albanians enjoyed the same constitutional rights as the other ethnic groups. After the secession of 1992, FYROM changed its constitution at the expense of all non-Slavic people. Now all "national" rights belong to the Slavic-Macedonians. The government asserts that Albanians must be treated as one of the minority populations and cannot therefore, make claims of equality as a people. This is also reflected in the constitution of FYROM. Democracy in Macedonia has now been reduced to a mechanical procedure where the majority pushes the minority aside. From a multinational society, a uninational state has been created.

10. Although the Albanian population supported with great loyalty the creation of the new state of FYROM, more than 25% of the Albanians were deprived of their former citizenship, which revoked their right and opportunity to vote.

When FYROM became a member of the United Nations, it also became party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and other international treaties. This includes the equal civil and political rights of the Albanians.

11. One important human right violated by the authorities of FYROM is the right to education in one's own language. Albanian elementary schools have a lack of the most basic requirements. This is in stark contrast to Slavic-Macedonian schools which are well developed.

12. Actually, the Albanians are not claiming the secession from FYROM. What they request is the new constitution of FYROM where the equal rights of Albanians would be granted, including the right to education, the use of own language on official basis, the use of the flag, and the proportional representation in the government, parliament and other state institutions. The TRP does not detract all the efforts of the representatives of FYROM for the peace in Balcan and building their new state, however calls the government of FYROM to respect the desires and rights of the considerable part of its citizens and to provide all the necessary means to bring these rights into life. So far, one third of the nation (Albanians) participate in the public and political life as if they were 1/30.

13. The Transnational Radical Party urges this Sub-Commission to focus its attention on the situation of Albanians in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and to bear pressure on the government of FYROM to take all the necessary constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and protect the rights of the Albanians.