OSCE Chairman urges Serbia and Montenegro to speed up reform

BELGRADE/PODGORICA, 21 October 2004 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, encouraged the leaders of Serbia and Montenegro to press ahead with reforms related to their OSCE commitments to help achieve their objective of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

During visits to Belgrade and Podgorica on Wednesday, the Chairman-in-Office was pleased to note the positive reactions of political leaders to the EU-proposed "twin track" approach that opens real perspectives for both republics within the state union of Serbia and Montenegro in relation to the beginning of the Stabilization and Association Processes.

"I believe that political leaders will be inspired by this promising perspective and will find ways to unite in their efforts to bring the country closer to the Euro-Atlantic institutions," he said.

In Belgrade, the Chairman-in-Office underlined the importance of encouraging the Serb population in Kosovo to participate without hindrance in the Kosovo Assembly election on October 23.

He assured his Serb counterparts that KFOR, UNMiK, the OSCE and other international players had put in place effective measures to ensure a normal and peaceful election day. He also welcomed the constructive attitude of the Serb authorities in enabling internally displaced persons in Serbia proper to vote in the Kosovo election. The issue of appropriate decentralisation in Kosovo and its impact on the improvement of the situation of all ethnic communities was also discussed.

In Podgorica, the Chairman-in-Office urged all political forces to deliberate on crucial national priorities within Parliament. He expressed hope that, through the continued facilitation of the OSCE, opposition parties will decide to end their boycott and return to Parliament.

The Chairman-in-Office said he was pleased by the excellent co-operation between host country authorities at both the state union and republican level and the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, including its Office in Podgorica.

Minister Passy also discussed co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The arrest and handover of indictees was acknowledged as essential for the country's continued integration into European and trans-Atlantic structures.

During his visit, the Chairman-in-Office was received by the President of the state union Svetozar Marovic, Serb President Boris Tadic and by Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic.

In Belgrade, he held talks with state union Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic, Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Patriarch Pavle.

In Montenegro, he met Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Foreign Minister Miodrag Vlahovic, Deputy Prime Minister Dragan Djurovic and SNP opposition leader Predrag Bulatovic.