2 October 1992

Doc. 6688

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

on the crisis in former Yugoslavia

presented by Mr REDDEMANN and others


1.       The Assembly endorses the declaration on the conflict in former Yugoslavia adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 11 September 1992.

2.       It notes with dismay that the Committee of Ministers' appeal, like those of other international organisations, to implement fully the principles adopted at the Conference on peace in ex-Yugoslavia (London Conference) has so far not been followed by the conflicting parties, and in particular by Serbia and Montenegro.

3.       The Assembly therefore supports calls for a total land, sea and air blockade of Serbia and Montenegro as well as for their exclusion from all international fora until they comply fully with the undertakings of the London Conference.

4.       All European countries must fully respect the United Nations embargo against Serbia and Montenegro. The neighbouring countries in the region must facilitate monitoring the blockade, in particular to impede the supply of arms to Serbia and Montenegro.

5.       The Assembly welcomes the decision of the United States Senate, to ask the UN to lift the ban on arms sales for Bosnia-Herzegovina in order to enable this invaded country to defend itself against an imminent genocide. The Assembly asks the governments of the member states actively to support the proposition of the United States Senate. It asks the UN to set up a peace-making force to stop the killing in Bosnia-Herzogovina and in the occupied territories in Croatia.

6.       The Assembly further supports the creation of a "no-fly zone" over the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina so as to protect the civilian population and to ensure the safe transportation and delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.

7.       The Assembly demands that all violations of human rights, in particular the practice of "ethnic cleansing", stop immediately. All detention camps in the territory of former Yugoslavia must be closed and all civilian prisoners released.

8.       Recalling its Recommendation 1189 (1992) on the establishment of an international court to judge war crimes, the Assembly affirms that expulsion of population is a crime against humanity and that people responsible for such practices must be held personally accountable for these crimes.

9.       The Assembly expresses its admiration for the courage and dedication of the United Nations peace-keeping forces (UNPROFOR) and the personnel of humanitarian organisations in the field. It also condemns all attacks on these persons.

10.       More than 2 million persons have already been displaced by the conflict in former Yugoslavia. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other humanitarian organisations need the financial support of Council of Europe member States to assist these persons.

11.       In the light of the above, the Assembly invites the governments of member states

i.       to support the efforts of the Steering Committee of the London Conference to put an end to the conflict;

ii.       to urge all conflicting parties to fully comply with all commitments resulting from the London Conference;

iii.       to respect fully the embargo against Serbia and Montenegro;

iv.       to contribute generously to providing assistance and protection to displaced persons in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Croatia by making available to the United Nations the necessary means, and by increasing their financial support to the UNHCR and the ICRC;

v.       to undertake rapid action to share the burden of giving asylum to the displaced population fleeing the war;

vi.       to make full use of the possibilities offered by the Social Development Fund to improve the situation of the displaced population received in their territories.

Signed:       REDDEMANN, L. FISCHER, ZIERER, KITTELMANN, KELCHTERMANS, OTTENBOURGH, EVERSDIJK, VELLA, BÜCHEL, OEHRY, SCHWIMMER, KÖNIG, MIMAROGLU, KILIC, KIRATLIOGLU, DIMMER, BÖHM, AARTS, PETRIK, KARCSAY, MESZAROS, HÖRCSIK, CARO, DURAND, GRZESKOWIAK, F. CACCIA, COLUMBERG, RUBNER, BÜHLER, FABRA, DIAZ DE MERA, RODRIGUEZ GOMEZ, SIWEK, BLOETZER.