Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union
on recognition by EU Member States
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
On behalf of the European Union, the Presidency
expresses appreciation for the agreement signed yesterday by the
FRY and the FYROM authorities to the effect of settling their
bilateral relations and exchanging diplomatic representatives
at ambassadorial level. This development, which was considered
important by the European Union, represents a substantial contribution
to peace and stability in the region of former Yugoslavia and
opens the way to recognition by the member States, in accordance
with their respective procedures, of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
as one of the successor States to the Socialist Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia.
The European Union will welcome further steps
by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia leading the country to the
full normalization of its relations with the international community.
The European Union considers that hereafter
the development of good relations with the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia and of its position within the international community
will depend on a constructive approach by the FRY to the following:
- mutual recognition among all the States
of the former Yugoslavia, including between the Republic of Croatia
and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The EU urges the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia to overcome
all remaining obstacles to the mutual recognition and full normalization
of relations without delay;
- progress in the fulfilment of the commitments
made in the Paris Peace Agreement, including cooperation with
the International Tribunal;
- agreement among all the States of the former
Yugoslavia on succession issues;
- full cooperation in implementing the basic
agreement on Eastern Slavonia, and
- full respect for human rights, minority
rights and the right to return of all refugees and displaced persons
and the granting of a large degree of autonomy for Kosovo within
the FRY.
The European Union places a particular emphasis
on human rights and rights of national and ethnic groups. It
recalls the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's commitments made
in the Paris Peace Agreement and its agreement at the London Peace
Implementation Conference to the continuation of the Working Group
on ethnic and national minorities and communities with its present
terms of reference. This Group's mandate is to recommend initiatives
for resolving ethnic questions in the former Yugoslavia on the
basis of agreed principles concerning human rights and rights
of national and ethnic groups. The European Union understands
that the commitments in the Paris Peace Agreement and the acceptance
of the continuation of this Group by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
entail acceptance of these principles. This understanding is
communicated to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and progress
in implementing these principles will be carefully monitored.