Reconstruction of the former Yugoslavia

In adopting the report by Mr José MENDILUCE PEREIRO (PSE, Es), Parliament welcomed the progress achieved to date in implementing the peace plan. It considered the consolidation of peace, reconciliation and the reconstruction of the former Yugoslavia as the biggest foreign and security policy challenge for the EU since its creation and was therefore of the opinion that support should be withheld from those authorities that do not respect the Dayton peace agreement, with particular reference to respect for human rights. At the same time, Parliament: - As regards reconciliation and respect for human rights: . was convinced that those guilty of war crimes, in particular the main instigators, should be brought before the International Tribunal in the Hague and made answerable for their actions. In particular, it considers it important to clarify the fate of the missing persons, and stressed the importance of facilitating freedom of movement within the Republika Serpska, . deplored the clashes that have occurred in Mostar, Sarajevo, and other places in Bosnia, and considered that measures to combat gangs and mafia groups require tougher intervention than provided for in the Dayton agreement, . called on the Council to press, within the UN, for an international inquiry on the capture of Srebrenica. - As regards refugees and displaced persons: . called on EU Member States which have granted asylum to refugees from former Yugoslavia to establish a common and coordinated plan for voluntary repatriation, with the removal of mines from the territory and guaranteeing adequate shelter, . for their part, the authorities of the former Yugoslavia should ensure that refugees can legitimately get their properties back. - As regards elections and the freedom of the media: . called upon the EU and the other international institutions to guarantee that the municipal elections in Mostar, to be held on 30 June 1996, will be free and fair, and believed that the holding of elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina before 14 September 1996 represents an important step in paving the way for the establishment of common democratic institutions. It therefore called on the Council of Ministers to support the organization of the elections and to decide on a joint action to monitor the development of the electoral process, . called on the Member States to help the refugees of former Yugoslavia living there who wished to vote in their country, though without compelling them to return home for good, and to give the Serbian refugees from Mostar the opportunity to vote in their Belgrade embassy, . appealed to its own political forces, as well as to political parties, trade unions, social, religious and cultural institutions in the EU countries to support those forces that have acted in support of the peace process, and asked the EU institutions to provide the NGOs with the necessary means to build and strengthen civil society, . confirmed the position on the freedom of media taken in its resolution of 14 March 1996 and called on the Commission to promote free and independent media which have the reconstruction of a multi-ethnic society as their main objective. - As regards financial aid: . expressed its satisfaction at the funding commitments given at the donors' conference in April 1996, and confirmed its position that the EU financial contributions cannot be financed through PHARE alone but need special funding in the context of a specific programme. - As regards economic rehabilitation and reconstruction: . believed that a convincing start had been made on economic rehabilitation, but took the view that priority should be given to projects which contribute to the economic reintegration of the country and facilitate the process of reconciliation, . called on the parties to institute immediately in each municipality an economic rehabilitation programme designed to clear up the destruction created by war and promote the rebuilding of housing, . believed that international reconstruction aid should be directed towards key infrastructure needs in the areas of power and electricity, telecommunications and road and rail links, in order to permit a rapid return of the refugees, as well as in education and health. Intermediate initiatives should also be taken, in the transition between humanitarian action and large-scale reconstruction, by supporting inter alia the rebuilding of housing, . wanted special attention to be given to projects which contribute to the cooperation between the Federation and the Republika Srpska, in particular on the basis of the PHARE cross-border programme, . encouraged the Commission to continue the PHARE Essential Aid programme and to concentrate in a second phase on projects to reduce unemployment, strengthen public institutions and prepare for future EU aid programmes. - As regards the Peace Implementation Review Conference: . regretted that the June 1996 Conference in Florence had not taken a clear stand on the removal of those mainly responsible for the war in Bosnia, . called for the fulfilment of the conditions for free elections, in particular the free movement of persons, . considered that the Union's economic and trade policy towards the countries of the former Yugoslavia must encourage regional integration and lead to the conclusion of association agreements between the Union and those countries, and took the view that the investment made by the EU, the international agencies, the High Representative and the NGOs should not be lost by an early withdrawal of IFOR, . finally, called upon the EU to consider a further extension of the EU administration in Mostar, and to clarify the status of its personnel there�