OSCE Chairmanship backs move by Kosovo Special Representative

LISBON, 24 May 2002 - The Portuguese OSCE Chairmanship expressed its full support for the decision of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Michael Steiner, to declare null and void the "Resolution on the protection of the Territorial Integrity of Kosovo" adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo on Thursday.

The Chairmanship regrets that the Assembly members have decided to ignore the clear and unanimous views expressed by Special Representative Steiner, the United Nations Security Council President and the international community as a whole on this issue.

The elected leaders in Kosovo are expected to fully comply with the terms of Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Constitutional Framework for provisional self-government and to work in favour of peace and security in Kosovo and in the region.

Furthermore, the OSCE Chairmanship recalled the United Nations Security Council Presidential statement of 7 March 2001, emphasizing that the border demarcation agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, signed on 23 February 2001, must be respected by all.