OSCE urges Yugoslavia to seek political solution for Kosovo conflict

VIENNA, 25 September 1998 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, welcomes the adoption on 23 September by the United Nations Security Council of a strong resolution on Kosovo (Res. 1199). He considers it as an important step which shows to the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and to the Kosovar Albanian leadership that the international community is united in its determination to end the violence and assist in finding a political solution to the conflict in Kosovo.

The Chairman-in-Office reiterates the readiness of the OSCE to continue to play its part in this effort and recalls the repeated initiatives undertaken to this end since the beginning of March. He stresses in this context the constructive role that his Personal Representative to the FRY, Mr Felipe Gonzalez, would assume by assisting in the democratisation process. He also recalls the importance of the return of the OSCE long-term mission, as foreseen during the technical assessment mission conducted by the OSCE in Belgrade and in Kosovo in July, which predicted the upcoming humanitarian catastrophe. He recalls that the OSCE would be ready to follow on the exploratory talks held in July and August with FRY representatives.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office strongly urges once again President Milosevic to create conditions for an immediate and meaningful dialogue to seek a political solution to the conflict.