OSCE Chairman-in-Office, visiting Belgrade, condemns killings of police in Kosovo

BELGRADE, 24 March 2004 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, met senior government officials of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as of Serbia, today and reiterated his strong condemnation of the violence in Kosovo.

"Violence and intolerance do not help to resolve the situation in Kosovo. On the contrary, they complicate it," Minister Passy said.

He also condemned yesterday's killing of an UNMIK police officer and a Kosovo Police Service officer.

The Chairman-in-Office briefed the authorities of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as of Serbia, about his visit to Kosovo yesterday on behalf of the OSCE. He told them that victims of the recent acts of violence in Kosovo should be compensated and the perpetrators should be brought to justice.

"The international community is united in its efforts to prevent such violence happening again," Minister Passy added.

The Chairman-in-Office expressed his support for Serbia and Montenegro's ambition to become integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

"This would come about as a result of democratic reforms, which would secure political stability in the country and in the region," he said.

Minister Passy said the challenges of extremism, organized crime and terrorism required a regional and global response. Initiatives to this end will be discussed at a meeting of OSCE Heads of Mission from south-eastern Europe in Sofia on 13 and 14 April 2004.