OSCE Permanent Council Chairman shocked over killings in Kosovo

VIENNA, 18 January 1999 - The following statement was issued by Ambassador Kai Eide, Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council.

The Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OSCE, following today's discussion in the Permanent Council, expresses shock over the killings of ethnic Albanian civilians in southern Kosovo on Friday, 15 January. He condemns these atrocities, which the OSCE mission has determined were committed by FRY military and police against unarmed civilians.

All available information indicates that many of the victims of the latest atrocities were brutally executed. A full investigation must be carried out by the FRY authorities and by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, to bring those responsible for this tragedy to full account. In this context, the FRY authorities must without delay give Prosecutor Louise Arbour and ICTY experts full access to the scene of the violence as well as to the suspects.

The latest violence is by far the worst set-back to the ongoing efforts to solve the Kosovo crisis since the 16 October agreement between Foreign Ministers Geremek and Jovanovic and constitutes a clear violation of this agreement. As a result of this violence several thousand inhabitants fled the area. There is now a climate of fear in Kosovo, in particular among the displaced persons and those who have returned to their villages. The prospects of sustainable return, which the KVM - together with the UNHCR - has done much to promote have been damaged. It is now essential that a climate of security be re-established to promote the return process and prevent further displacement.

The FRY must put an immediate end to its use of force in Kosovo. The parties must comply immediately with the ceasefire. They must now demonstrate restraint and abstain from violence and retaliation, which can only lead to more suffering and destruction.

The security of verifiers is of paramount importance to the OSCE and to the functioning of the KVM. The 15 January attack on OSCE verifiers is to be condemned. The OSCE Mission will, with the full support of the Permanent Council, fulfill its role in promoting stability and dialogue. All parties must firmly respect the commitments they have undertaken. The FRY has not complied with the Geremek/Jovanovic agreement; it must be fully implemented. The legitimate requests of the KVM must be met. The ceasefire must be restored and maintained by the FRY as well as by the KLA.

The recent tragic events underline the urgent need to find a political settlement to the conflict. The efforts made by representatives of the international community to this effect, in line with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions have the full support of the OSCE. The parties must now negotiate seriously and reach a solution promptly.