Vol. 491 No. 5
7 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the European Union is taking to protect the Albanian population in Kosovo, Serbia; and if he envisages a visit to the area by a ministerial troika in the near future. [12433/98]
40 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, the European Union is taking to prevent further loss of life in Kosovo, Serbia. [12436/98]
48 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Kosovo, Serbia. [12390/98]
56 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures, if any, the Irish Government intends taking at EU and international level to protect the lives and welfare of the population of Kosovo, Serbia in the immediate term and to promote peace and justice in the longer term. [12524/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 40, 48 and 56 together.
The situation in Kosovo continues to be a matter of deep concern to the Government and to the international community generally. It was considered further at the General Affairs Council which I attended on Monday.
Deputies will be aware of the developments in Kosovo which led to the EU imposing certain sanctions on Serbia on 19 March and the United Nations Security Council doing likewise on 31 March, and which I described in my reply to a question on 1 April.
Since then the situation has been monitored closely, and preparatory work has been undertaken so that any decisions on further sanctions could be implemented quickly.
The international community has four basic objectives with regard to Kosovo: first, to get a dialogue and negotiations started between the Serbian and ethnic Albanian sides; second, to have the Serb forces carry out their duties in conformity with international standards of behaviour; third, to see an end to attacks and other incidents by the so called Kosovo Liberation Army; and fourth, to see an end to support from both inside and outside the FRY for the activities of the KLA.
Dialogue has now started between the Serbs and the ethnic Albanian sides. The cohesiveness of the international approach to date has played an important part in promoting this dialogue. As a result of international action President Milosevic has now taken responsibility for the start of a political process, rather than allowing the earlier stalemate to continue indefinitely. Dr. Rugova, the leader on the ethnic Albanian side, has also been persuaded to engage in dialogue with Milosevic. At their meeting on 15 May they agreed to open a dialogue which would be carried forward by their delegations. The first such meeting took place last Friday, 22 May.
The situation remains very serious, with frequent reports of clashes between security forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army. Tensions along the border with Albania also give rise to the greatest concern. This violence represents an increasing threat to the human and civil rights of all the inhabitants in Kosovo and to regional security as well. To end the cycle of mounting violence, the FRY and Serbian security forces must stop repression and carry out their duties in conformity with international standards. Attacks on the security forces also have to cease and support for such attacks, whether it comes from inside Kosovo or from persons living abroad, also has to stop.
On a more positive note, the Education Agreement, which is seen as a possible bridge between the sides and which was at a stalemate for almost two years, is now being implemented. The return of university and school buildings for use by the ethnic Albanians represents the honouring of one commitment by the Serbs. Unfortunately, however, violence by local elements has meant that damage, sometimes extensive, has been done to buildings. The European Commission has offered assistance for the implementation of the Education Agreement and technical studies have already started, including on the restoration of buildings.
In view of the start of the dialogue between the Serbs and the ethnic Albanians, the General Affairs Council last Monday decided that a proposed EU measure to stop new investment in Serbia would not be taken forward at this time. Should Belgrade fail to engage seriously in a substantial dialogue and to take meaningful steps to reduce violence and diminish tensions in Kosovo, the EU will proceed with this ban. The Council will examine the matter again at its next meeting on 8 June.
While there have been ministerial visits to the region, including Belgrade, by the Presidency, I am not aware at this time of any plans for a visit to the region by the ministerial troika.
It is hoped the special envoy of the EU, and the special representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, Felipe Gonzalez, who briefed the Foreign Ministers at the Council on Monday, will be in a position to fulfil his mandate in the near future.
I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply to what is an area about which we all have reason to be concerned. The reality is that Kosovo is under martial law with the domination of 90 per cent of the population by 10 per cent. My worry, which I want to convey to the Minister, is about the repercussions of what is happening in Kosovo on the implementation of the Dayton Agreement. I welcome the intervention by the European Union. It is an area which we must monitor carefully. In fairness, the Minister has outlined that the conflict arises from both sides, repression by state forces and of course the Kosovo Liberation Army on the other side causing problems for whatever prospects exist for establishing dialogue and peace between both sides.
The EU must take a strong stance. We want to see the autonomous status of Kosovo restored at the earliest possible time. I do not see any other solution. It is unlikely that the 90 per cent Albanian population will accept domination, which Serbia is trying to impose.
Will the Minister make sure, at European level, that the Presidency takes a strong stance? My worry is that there will be a spill-over from Kosovo into Albania which will undermine whatever prospects exist for the implementation of the Dayton Agreement. I believe those prospects are quite good but they are being undermined by Serbia's response to this situation in Kosovo.
I am grateful to the Deputy for his remarks because they sit comfortably with what we are trying to achieve. Certainly, I will bring the matter to the attention of our partners in Europe at the next opportunity. I appreciate the Deputy's concern on the matter.
Will the Minister agree that Kosovo is a potential powder keg and that it could explode at any time with major implications for Europe, including the European Union? Will he state whether this matter has recently been discussed at OSCE as well as at EU meetings? What steps are being taken to try once and for all to bring some sort of decency to the procedure of government which Mr. Milosevic is intent on bringing to that region in general? Is Mr. Milosevic regularly made aware of the views of the EU and the OSCE in an effective way which gives him cause for concern, or do we simply rely on démarches and statements which are literally like water off a duck's back to the man concerned?
As Deputy Spring and Deputy Mitchell stated, a number of actions and sanctions have been imposed against Serbia. As I indicated on 1 April the EU, through a common position adopted on 19 March, introduced four measures: an embargo on arms sales; a ban on the sale of goods which could be used in internal repression of terrorism; a moratorium on government financed export credit for trade investment, including government financing for privatisation and a ban on visas for senior Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia representatives responsible for repressive actions by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia security forces in Kosovo.
There are two additional measures on which preparatory work has been completed, as I indicated in my reply, namely, a freeze on Federal Republic of Yugoslavia assets held abroad and a freeze on future investment in Serbia. Further action on these will depend on Serbia's response to the EU's demands which I have outlined.
As Deputies have said, there is a serious danger of this situation escalating. On Monday the EU reiterated its support for an enhanced status for Kosovo, as Deputy Spring rightly pointed out, including meaningful self-administration of Kosovo and the territory of the FRY. Ireland supports this while not excluding any outcome which may be reached between the Kosovar Albanians and Belgrade. A redrawing of international boundaries without agreement would threaten to destabilise other countries in the region and that is Deputy Mitchell's concern. One would have to bear in mind the significance of such a development.
