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Resolution 1839 (2011) Final version
The political situation in the Balkans
1. The Parliamentary Assembly notes
that, despite an overall positive assessment of the situation in
the Balkans, the recent upsurge of tension and the political impasse
in some parts of the region give rise to concern. It is in particular
concerned by:
1.1. the violent clashes
in North Kosovo at the administrative checkpoints with Serbia, which
led to one death during the summer, and the continuing tension and
recurrent outbreaks of violence even today, blocking progress in
the European Union-mediated talks between Pristina and Belgrade;
1.2. the political stalemate in Bosnia and Herzegovina which,
one year after the October 2010 general elections, is still without
a state-level government, representing the longest political crisis
in the country since the end of the war in 1995.
2. With regard to the growing tension and violence in North Kosovo,
the Assembly:
2.1. deeply regrets
the most recent acts of violence involving staff members of the
Kosovo Peace Force (Kfor) who serve under NATO command;
2.2. demands an urgent and objective investigation into the
incident at the Jarinje administrative checkpoint on 27 September
2011, when six individuals were shot;
2.3. calls upon the people in North Kosovo to act with restraint
and to co-operate without delay and in a constructive manner with
the Kfor and with the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX);
2.4. calls on the authorities in Pristina to respond positively
and sensitively to any legitimate concerns of the minorities in
the region;
2.5. urges the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina to resume
the European Union-mediated dialogue on all outstanding issues,
in a spirit of co-operation and reconciliation, including the situation
in North Kosovo; everything must be done to ensure that North Kosovo
does not remain a black hole in the Western Balkans outside the
control of the authorities in both Pristina and Belgrade;
2.6. calls on the Council of Europe member states to urge the
authorities in Belgrade and Pristina to seek a peaceful solution
to the North Kosovo question;
2.7. invites its Presidential Committee to consider a mission
in the region to intensify the dialogue and overcome the tensions;
2.8. points out that the priorities of the regional and international
actors in the region must remain security, stability and respect
for human rights in both Kosovo and the region, as well as the integrity
of internationally recognised borders, in strict compliance with
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).
3. With regard to the political stalemate in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
the Assembly:
3.1. notes that this
stalemate, due mainly to the quarrel on political concepts concerning
the distribution of ministerial posts in the 10-member Council of
Ministers, has had dire consequences: the country has seen its credit
ratings downgraded by international financial agencies, foreign
direct investments have fallen 75% since 2009, unemployment is at
over 43% of the working population and the state is functioning
on temporary financing since no state budget has yet been adopted;
3.2. regrets that the outgoing government has not been in a
position to introduce the reforms necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina
to prepare to join the European Union with the result that the Stabilisation
and Association Agreement, ratified by all European Union member
states in October 2010, has still not been put into force;
3.3. urges all party leaders to find a solution to the political
impasse without delay, thereby opening up the prospects for European
integration for the country and enhanced regional co-operation;
3.4. urges once more the authorities to implement without delay
the Sejdić and Finci v. Bosnia and Herzegovina judgment
of the European Court of Human Rights by ensuring that minorities
or the “others” that do not belong to the “three constituent peoples”
(Bosniacs, Croats and Serbs) are able to stand for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s
presidential elections;
3.5. urges all Council of Europe member states to offer assistance
to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to overcome the political
stalemate and the deterioration of the economic situation, and to meet
their obligations and commitments to the Organisation.
4. With regard to the situation in Albania, the Assembly:
4.1. welcomes the fact that the 2011
local elections are now formally concluded and that their outcome
has been accepted by the Albanian voters;
4.2. takes note of the commitment of the leader of the Socialist
Party to end his party’s boycott of the parliament;
4.3. encourages all parties to strengthen, without delay, their
internal democratic functioning, work towards normalising the political
situation and start a political dialogue within the parliament on
the priorities and necessary reforms to be carried out, also with
a view to the European Union accession talks;
4.4. welcomes the recent agreement reached between the Democratic
Party and the Socialist Party to proceed with electoral reform;
the Assembly calls on them to ensure that such a reform addresses
the shortcomings encountered in both the parliamentary and local
elections and increases the possibilities for smaller parties to
enter the parliament; this should put an end to the political bipolarisation
which has marked Albanian politics and frustrated the Albanian people
in recent decades. The advice of the European Commission for Democracy
through Law (Venice Commission) in the process of electoral reform
should be sought.
5. The Assembly resolves to continue to follow closely the situation
in the Western Balkans and, in particular, the situation in Kosovo,
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania.