URGENCY RESOLUTION
ELDR CONGRESS BRATISLAVA 23/24 September 2005

Urgency 1, Kosovo/Kosova Urgency Resolution (1)

urgency  resolution on Kosova/Kosovo

• acknowledges with great concern that more than 12,500 people died during the war in Kosova in 1999 and that more than 2,930 Kosovars are missing since 1999.
  

• Notes that the security for Serbs, Roma, and other non-Albanian minorities, as shown during the riots in March 2004 is far from satisfactory.
  

• notes the fact that the authorities in Pristina have done far too little to accommodate the non-Albanian minorities and to safeguard security and respect for human rights for minorities
  

• notes that the citizens of Kosova at present are still living with uncertainty as concerns the political and economic future of the region. The frustration of the very high number of unemployed is rising. The fear among possible foreign companies to invest in Kosova is also high due to its uncertain status,
  

• recognises and supports the PISG (Provisional Institutions of Self Government) efforts on creating a multicultural society together with the other international community members involved UNMIK - United Nations Mission in Kosovo, EU, OSCE and NATO.
  

• welcomes the newly signed Agreement on free Trade between Kosova and Macedonia and the functioning of the agreement previously signed with Albania,
  

• reaffirms the obligation of the European institutions toward assisting the Kosovar authorities to fulfil the requirements set by the UN and to continue with a future Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo, due to the establishment of the EU office in Prishtina,
  

• regrets the fact that the authorities in Belgrade still oppose the participation of the Serb minority in Kosovar institutions for self-government, and calls on the Serbian government to openly and widely support participation of the Serb minority in the PISG of Kosova;
  

• Supports the return to Kosovo of all Serb and other refugees who wish to do so, and safeguarding of their property rights.
  

• regrets the fact that all indicted war criminals from the abuses of the Kosova war have still not been transferred to the Hague tribunal and calls on the respective government to take immediate action to this end,
  

• welcomes the decision of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to allow the establishment of the ministries of Justice and Home Affairs in Kosova, as this can lead to better co-ordination of the fight against regional crime and other illegal behaviour that can increase tension in the Balkans,
  

• calls upon the local and international authorities to do their best to continue improving the living conditions for all citizens, regardless of nationality, religion, age or gender, and to pay special attention to fight actively against corruption and on improving the standards for minorities, especially the Serb minority,
  stresses that the protection of minority rights in Kosovo is the issue on which progress will most depend,
  

• calls upon the EU, US, UN, NATO and other international organisations to proceed towards a sustainable final status of Kosovo, where the standards of democracy, human and minority rights, are truly fulfilled, and Kosovo explicitly commits itself not to unify with Albania, or any neighbouring state or territory, other than in the context of EU integration, so that the Kosovars can decide upon their own future.