OSCE Ministerial Troika meets in Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN, 23 January 1996 - The Ministers of the Troika of the OSCE, the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Switzerland and Denmark, met today in Copenhagen. They had on their agenda the follow-up to the OSCE Summit in Lisbon 2-3 December 1996, the elections in Chechnya, the situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and in Belarus and the preparation of the municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ministers also discussed other regional issues.

The Ministers agreed that holding of elections in Chechnya (Russian Federation) is a crucial step in consolidating peace. International presence and monitoring is of utmost importance. The OSCE is going ahead with preparations to observe the elections but stands ready to cancel participation if a manifest deterioration of the security situation should occur.

The Ministers expressed their disappointment with developments in Serbia (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). They deplored the fact that the government in Belgrade has still not unequivocally accepted the conclusions of the Gonzalez Report. They reiterated the call for full and immediate implementation, in good faith, of the recommendations made in the Report. They stressed that in a democracy election results are not negotiable.

The Ministers emphasized the need for early democratic reforms in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. They recalled the OSCE's readiness to support the democratization process. A constructive dialogue on this issue between government and opposition is needed. The Ministers were unanimous in their support for the offer by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to facilitate such a dialogue.

The Ministers emphasized that the municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be held as soon as technically possible and feasible. The Ministers called on the parties to agree on rules and regulations without delay.

The Ministers welcomed the invitation by UNTAES to OSCE to monitor elections in Eastern Slavonia (Croatia).

On the situation in Belarus the Ministers remain seriously concerned. They reiterated the position stated to president Lukashenko at the Lisbon Summit and called for the Government of Belarus to take action to respect fully OSCE norms, principles and commitments, to enter into dialogue with the opposition, to ensure freedom of media and movement of persons and not to restrict access to the media for members of the opposition.

The Troika welcomed the sending of an EU fact-finding mission to Belarus. In light of the outcome of this mission the OSCE Troika will consider the feasibility of sending a Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office to Minsk.

The Ministers took note of the status of the inter-Tajik talks on a peaceful settlement in Tajikistan that recently took place in Teheran. They expressed their hope for a successful outcome of the next meeting at the end of February. They reaffirmed that the OSCE stands ready - through its Mission and other institutions - to play its part in the follow-up and implementation of any agreement reached.