Newsroom
Statement by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on Yugoslavia
WARSAW 7 October 1998
WARSAW, 7 October 1998 - Professor Bronislaw Geremek, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, has received yesterday evening a letter from the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Zivadin Jovanovi, in which he invited the OSCE "to witness first hand the positive evolution of the most crucial processes in Kosovo and Metohija."
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office emphasized that the best conditions for accepting this invitation will appear when the FRY satisfies the requirements contained in the OSCE Permanent Council Decision 218, as well as United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1160 and 1199.
Minister Geremek recalls the OSCE's long-standing readiness to give its contribution to the democratic processes in the FRY and to the solution of the crisis in Kosovo, where appalling human suffering is occurring, and where there is the risk of its aggravation in the near future. At the same time, Mr. Geremek recalls and confirms the OSCE's long-standing readiness to contribute to a durable solution and stability in the area.
The Chairman-in-Office confirms this readiness and hopes that conditions will soon allow the OSCE to undertake appropriate initiatives.
The Chairman-in-Office also draws attention to the fact that Foreign Minister Jovanovi's proposal does not refer to the contents of the OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 218, regarding the invitation of the long-term Missions to Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina, or to the mission of Felipe Gonzalez as Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office for the FRY. The Chairman-in-Office also notes that the relation between the mission proposed by Minister Jovanovi and the diplomatic monitoring activities currently underway in Kosovo and organized by the Contact Group with OSCE participation, was not mentioned by Minister Jovanovi. OSCE monitoring could be an important element of the settlement process of the solution of the crisis in Kosovo. This would also mean acceptance of the requirements of the international community addressed to President Milosevic, as stated in the UN Security Council Resolution 1199.
Minister Geremek underlines that it is now up to the FRY, through full compliance with the terms of the above-mentioned documents, to enable the OSCE to make its contribution to the resolution of the crisis over Kosovo.
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office emphasized that the best conditions for accepting this invitation will appear when the FRY satisfies the requirements contained in the OSCE Permanent Council Decision 218, as well as United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1160 and 1199.
Minister Geremek recalls the OSCE's long-standing readiness to give its contribution to the democratic processes in the FRY and to the solution of the crisis in Kosovo, where appalling human suffering is occurring, and where there is the risk of its aggravation in the near future. At the same time, Mr. Geremek recalls and confirms the OSCE's long-standing readiness to contribute to a durable solution and stability in the area.
The Chairman-in-Office confirms this readiness and hopes that conditions will soon allow the OSCE to undertake appropriate initiatives.
The Chairman-in-Office also draws attention to the fact that Foreign Minister Jovanovi's proposal does not refer to the contents of the OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 218, regarding the invitation of the long-term Missions to Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina, or to the mission of Felipe Gonzalez as Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office for the FRY. The Chairman-in-Office also notes that the relation between the mission proposed by Minister Jovanovi and the diplomatic monitoring activities currently underway in Kosovo and organized by the Contact Group with OSCE participation, was not mentioned by Minister Jovanovi. OSCE monitoring could be an important element of the settlement process of the solution of the crisis in Kosovo. This would also mean acceptance of the requirements of the international community addressed to President Milosevic, as stated in the UN Security Council Resolution 1199.
Minister Geremek underlines that it is now up to the FRY, through full compliance with the terms of the above-mentioned documents, to enable the OSCE to make its contribution to the resolution of the crisis over Kosovo.