OSCE Chairman-in-Office deplores escalation of violence in Kosovo

WARSAW, 30 July 1998 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, expressed today his profound concern about the further deterioration of the situation in Kosovo, including in the border region between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Albania. He deplored in the strongest terms the escalation of violence, bloodshed and the real threat of a full scale military conflict. He urged those involved to cease hostilities and any inflammatory action and to explore still existing avenues of political dialogue. The international community should act to stop violence, prevent war, and establish necessary conditions for peace talks.

Mr. Geremek indicated that as the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE he has drawn the attention of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to his judgement that the Kosovo crisis has entered into a phase of unpredictable consequences for regional stability.

The Chairman-in-Office reiterates that the OSCE maintains its readiness to assist in a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Kosovo in the framework of decisions made by its participating States. In this context he points to the recent OSCE technical assessment mission to the FRY. He calls on the parties to assume positions conducive to taking up political dialogue and negotiated solutions.