Doc. 9152

28 June 2001

Situation of refugees and displaced people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Lord Judd and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Assembly notes with grave concern the situation of over 500 000 refugees and displaced people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The country has one of the largest populations of refugees in Europe. The majority of them have now been displaced for almost a decade.

2.       The democratic changes in Yugoslavia have paved the way for international co-operation and have provided the necessary context for approaching a long-term solution to the refugee problem.

3.       The disastrous state of the Yugoslav economy and the precarious predicament of the whole Yugoslav population underlines the urgent need for a comprehensive economic strategy for Yugoslavia and the Balkans. This will have to involve the most important international financial institutions. Meanwhile international humanitarian assistance is essential. The international community must contribute to the solution of the problem.

4.       This problem cannot be solved without the cooperation of other countries in the region as well as Yugoslavia itself. Clear and determined political commitment to a durable solution is indispensable. This necessitates close cooperation and coordination between the authorities of all countries concerned in repatriation, resettlement and integration.

5.       However the main responsibility inevitably rests with the Yugoslav authorities themselves. It is their duty to establish a comprehensive legal framework and to initiate the action which is necessary to facilitate returns, integration and resettlement of displaced population.

6.       The procedure for accession by the Federal Yugoslav Republic to the Council of Europe provides a good opportunity for a comprehensive review of the challenge with a view to making recommendations for action both to the Yugoslav authorities and to the international community with the purpose of these being taken into account before the completion of the accession procedure.

7.       The Parliamentary Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers calls on the Yugoslav authorities to ensure the necessary conditions for a solution including clear political commitment, a legal framework and other relevant policies and to expedite a lasting solution by cooperating closely with all other concerned countries in the region in order to solve the acute problem of refugees and displaced people in Yugoslavia.

Signed : ¹

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Aliyev B., Azerbaijan, SOC

Björnemalm, Sweden, SOC

Cherribi, Netherlands, LDR

Chikhradze, Georgia, EPP/CD

Cilevics, Latvia, SOC

Díaz de Mera, Spain, EPP/CD

Dmitrijevas, Lithuania, NR

Ehrmann, France, LDR

Einarsson, Sweden, UEL

Fehr, Switzerland, LDR

Gaber, Ukraine, SOC

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Ivanov, Estonia, SOC

Jařab, Czech Republic, LDR

Lauricella, Italy, SOC

Lörcher, Germany, SOC

Lucyga, Germany, SOC

Prosser, United Kingdom, SOC

Slutsky, Russia, SOC

Soendergaard, Denmark, UEL

Stoisits, Austria, SOC

Telek, Turkey, EDG

Tkác, Slovakia, EDG

Wilkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group