20 November 1991

Doc. 6530

R E P L Y

from the Committee of Ministers

to Written Question No. 340

by Mr TUMMERS

on Yugoslavia

I.       Question (6 November 1991, Doc. 6527)

      On 15 October 1991, a joint meeting was held of the Political Committee and the Defence Committee of the Assembly of Western European Union, where a discussion took place on the Yugoslav question. At that meeting it was stated that once a cease-fire and an arms embargo have been established, it is to be expected that other means and methods of destruction will be sought and developed. Among them will be the deployment of the national cultural heritage as a weapon as well as a target. Another question raised at the meeting was whether the peace-keeping force to be created is to include specialists on cultural heritage matters who are familiar with its misuse and abuse. Finally, it was asked whether the expertise of the Council of Europe was to be put to good use. The Presidency of the WEU Council replied positively.

Mr TUMMERS,

      Having learned of the decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of 8 October 1991 to suspend co-operation with the Yugoslav authorities (see Doc. 6524);

      Believing that social, cultural and economic considerations are part of the political and human problem involved;

      To ask the Committee of Ministers:

      - Why it has taken this decision, precisely at the moment when sanctions are expected to be imposed in a broader framework.

      - Whether this decision will leave sufficient room to draw the attention of the Yugoslav authorities to the obligations ensuing from the signing of conventions, notably the European Cultural Convention.

../..

II.       Reply from the Committee of Ministers (17 November 1991)

      The Committee of Ministers shares Mr Tummers belief that social, cultural and economic considerations are part of the political and human problem involved. Precisely for this reason the Committee of Ministers decided on 8 October 1991 to suspend co-operation with Yugoslavia. The Committee of Ministers notes that since then other international organisations have also taken measures.

      The Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the bombardments of Dubrovnik, appended to this reply, shows that there remains sufficient room to draw the attention of the Yugoslav authorities to the obligations ensuing from the signing of conventions, in particular the European Cultural Convention and the Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe, as well as to the obligation to protect human rights.

      The Committee of Ministers also refers to its reply to Assembly Recommendation 1166 (1991) on the prospects for European integration and detente in the Mediterranean.

Appendix to the reply to

Written Question No. 340 by Mr. Tummers

DECLARATION OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

ON THE BOMBARDMENTS OF DUBROVNIK

The Deputies adopted on 13 November 1991 the following Declaration:

"The Committee of Ministers, bearing in mind the aims of the Council of Europe which include the protection of human rights and the safeguard of the common cultural heritage of Europe, expresses its indignation at the continuation of the fighting and the bloodletting in Yugoslavia, despite repeated agreements on a ceasefire.

It strongly condemns the attacks that the Yugoslav army continues to direct against Dubrovnik and other Croatian towns, the violations of human rights, the use of force against civilian populations and the destruction of mankind's irreplaceable cultural and architectural heritage, as is the case in Dubrovnik.

It appeals to all parties involved for an effective ceasefire and stresses that the only end to the crisis is through negotiations in good faith and not by the recourse to force.

The Committee of Ministers reaffirms its full support for the efforts of the European Community to bring about a just and lasting solution in Yugoslavia.

The Committee of Ministers encourages all efforts aimed at providing humanitarian aid to the victims of the conflict, both inside and outside Yugoslavia.

It particularly asks all the concerned parties to allow urgent humanitarian aid to reach communities in need and the numerous people displaced as a result of the combats.".