VIENNA, 18 August 2000 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, welcomes the fact that the two British and two Canadian citizens, who are imprisoned in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, have now received consular visits from their respective diplomatic missions.

The Chairperson-in-Office reiterates her call on the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to accelerate the proceedings leading to the rapid release of the detained four men. The Chairperson-in-Office is confident that the proceedings initiated against them will prove that there is no basis for their further detention.

A swift release of the four detained would be regarded as a sign of comittment by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to its international obligations. Incidents of this nature are detrimental to the FRY's reputation in the international community.

The two British detained citizens are policemen seconded to the OSCE as part of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. Their work at the OSCE police training school was helping to build a peaceful multi-ethnic Kosovo, and they were involved with voluntary work with the Serb community.