OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission investigates human rights violations

SKOPJE, 4 April 1999 - The OSCE Kosovo Mission, presently located in the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (fYROM), is making a concerted effort to produce the most extensive picture possible of the human rights situation within Kosovo during the events which have led to the exodus of ethnic Albanians from the province.

This effort is made in accordance with a statement by the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek, in which he expressed "profound outrage that Yugoslavian and Serbian forces have blatantly perpetrated, and continue to perpetrate, crimes against the Albanian population of Kosovo that amount to grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, violations of the laws and customs of war, and crimes against humanity".

Mr. Vollebaek also declared in his statement on April 1:

"All persons who instigated, ordered, committed, or otherwise aided and abetted in the planning, preparation or execution of these serious violations of international humanitarian law against the Kosovo Albanians should be brought to account".

In close co-operation with the UNHCR, the OSCE Kosovo Mission is following the developing humanitarian crises on the borders around Kosovo.

Through contacts with displaced persons arriving on the borders and through other sources preliminary reports on human rights violations within Kosovo are being compiled by OSCE staff members.

The result of this work will form an important part of the basis for the planning of the OSCE Mission's return to Kosovo with a new mandate.

Other aspects of the Mission's planning for returning to Kosovo are done on the basis of the Rambouillet-proposals, presented by the Contact Group during the peace negotiations in February and March.

The Kosovo Mission, now in FYROM, on stand by to return was downsized last week from its peak strength of almost 1400, to approximately 250 in accordance with a decision made by the OSCE Permanent Council. Around 1000 verifiers returned to their home countries, ready to be recalled at short notice. The remaining 250 key personnel are staying in FYROM for human rights purposes, to co-operate with the UNHCR, and to plan for any new mission.