Contact Group
Statement
Bonn, 8 July 1998
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- The Contact Group met in Bonn on 8 July. It reviewed the situation
in Kosovo and took stock of the parties' response to the requirements set
out in the statement on Kosovo issued in London on 12 June by Foreign
Ministers of the Contact Group and of Canada and Japan, and implementation
of the undertakings made by President Milosevic in Moscow on 16 June.
- The overall situation in Kosovo remains tense. The Contact Group
noted with deep concern that, despite vigorous efforts undertaken by the
members of the Contact Group, the prospects of a peaceful settlement have
deteriorated since the Contact Group's meeting in London on June 12, 1998.
Although the primary responsibility for the situation in Kosovo rests with
Belgrade, the Contact Group acknowledges that armed Kosovo Albanian groups
also have a responsibility to avoid violence and all armed activities. The
Contact Group reiterated that violence is inadmissible and will not solve
the problem of Kosovo: indeed it will only make it more difficult to achieve
a political solution. The Contact Group stressed its condemnation of
violence and acts of terrorism in pursuit of political goals, from whatever
quarter.
- The Contact Group assessed Belgrade's response to the requirements
set out in the 12 June London statement: to cease all action by the security
forces affecting the civilian population and order the withdrawal of
security units used for civilian repression; to enable an effective and
continuous international observer group in Kosovo and allow unimpeded access
for observers; to facilitate, in agreement with UNHCR and ICRC, the full
return to their homes of refugees and displaced persons and to allow free
and unimpeded access for humanitarian organisations and supplies to Kosovo;
and to make rapid progress in the dialogue with the Kosovo Albanian
leadership. The Contact Group noted that:
- withdrawal of security forces used for civilian repression has not
yet been carried out although the security forces have shown some measure of
restraint recently.
- rapid progress in the dialogue with the Kosovo Albanian leadership
has not been achieved.
- The Contact Group acknowledged the significance of the undertakings
given by President Milosevic in his meeting with President Yeltsin on 16
June and emphasised the need for them to be fully implemented.
- The Contact Group called for an immediate cessation of hostilities
in Kosovo to pave the way for continuous talks between Belgrade and the
Kosovo Albanian leadership on additional confidence building measures and
the future status of Kosovo. Contact Group members will pursue this goal
through immediate talks with both Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanians. It is
clear that the Kosovo Albanian team for all these talks must be fully
representative of their community in order to speak authoritatively.
- The Contact Group concluded that Belgrade needed to take further action to
implement fully the undertakings made by President Milosevic in Moscow on 16
June and the requirements of the Contact Group. The Contact Group also
concluded that all concerned on the Kosovo Albanian side should commit
themselves to dialogue and a peaceful settlement and reject violence and
acts of terrorism. The Contact Group insisted that those outside the FRY who
are supplying financial support, arms or training for armed Kosovo Albanian
groups should cease doing so immediately. It furthermore requested all
states to pursue , as a matter urgency, all means consistent with their
domestic laws and relevant International Law, to prevent funds collected on
their territory being used to contravene UNSCR 1160. Against this background
the Contact Group decided to pursue United Nations Security Council
consideration of the adoption of a resolution reiterating the requirements
mentioned above. This resolution should underline the need for a cessation
of hostilities to permit a meaningful dialogue between the parties; enshrine
the undertakings made by President Milosevic in Moscow; and require the
authorities in Belgrade and all those concerned on the Kosovo Albanian side
to ensure the safety of international observers operating in Kosovo. Should
the required steps not be taken, the Contact Group will consider further
action under the United Nations Charter, including action that may require
the authorisation of a UN Security Council resolution, to bring about
compliance by those who block the process.
- The Contact Group reiterated that it supports neither the
maintenance of the status quo in Kosovo nor the Kosovo Albanians' claims for
independence. It emphasised that international involvement in the dialogue
between the Belgrade authorities and representatives of the Kosovo Albanian
community was an essential element of credible negotiations.
- With this in mind, the Contact Group agreed to recommend to the
negotiating teams basic elements for a resolution of the question of
Kosovo's status. Contact Group members reaffirmed their intention to work
actively for the achievement of the resolution of this issue.
- As part of this, in order to help parties, the Contact Group set in
hand work to define possible further elements for the future status of
Kosovo, which would be made available to the authorities in Belgrade and the
leadership of the Kosovo Albanian community for a dialogue with
international involvement.
- Should substantive talks begin, with the necessary security
confidence building measures in place and the launch of the mission of the
Special Representative of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, then the
Contact Group remains prepared to promote a clear and achievable path
towards Belgrade's full integration in the international community including
participation in the OSCE. The Contact Group's goal continues to be that the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should reap the benefits of membership of
international financial and political institutions.
- The Contact Group expressed its concern about the situation in
neighboring countries. It asked competent international organisations to
examine options further to stabilise the situation in Albania. The Contact
Group also supported the extension of the mandate of UNPREDEP beyond 31
August.
- The Contact Group noted that the Prosecutor of the International
Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia had now expressed the view that
the situation in Kosovo represented an armed conflict within the terms of
the mandate of the Tribunal. It reiterated its call for Belgrade and all
those in Kosovo to cooperate with the Prosecutor's investigation of possible
violations of international humanitarian law; and requested international
observers operating in Kosovo to supply the Prosecutor with any relevant
information.
- The Contact Group noted that a representative of the Chairman-in-Office
of the OSCE met government representatives of the FRY on 3 July in Belgrade.
The Contact Group supported the continuation of contacts between the OSCE
and the Government of the FRY with a view to the unimpeded and early return
of the long-term OSCE missions to the FRY, the early launching of the
mission of the Special Representative of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE,
and a dialogue across the full range of the FRY's relations with the OSCE.
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