Foreign Ministers welcome Yugoslavia as newest OSCE participating State

VIENNA, 27 November 2000 - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia President Vojislav Kostunica added his signature to three landmark OSCE documents today, symbolizing the country's official status as the 55th OSCE participating State.

"The inclusion of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia means that all States of Europe are represented within the OSCE," said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner. "We cannot bring back to life the many people who have died, nor pretend that the atrocities did not happen. But - and here I take the liberty of speaking on behalf of the OSCE and its participating States - we will do everything in our power to help the people in the countries concerned at least to have a share in a better future."

"Now we have returned to the OSCE after eight years of isolation and self-isolation, and thereby confirmed the return of Yugoslavia to the world," President Kostunica said.

"The question is what is to be done next? How to develop good neighbourly relations, how to draw on Europe's experience with reconciliation practice, and how to adhere to OSCE principles and norms throughout the region?" he said.

By endorsing the three OSCE documents, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia agrees to uphold the principles and norms stipulated in each.

The Helsinki Final Act, first endorsed by 35 participating States in 1975, contains a 10-point decalogue guiding relations on politico-military aspects of security, co-operation in fields such as economics, science and technology and the environment, and co-operation in humanitarian and other fields.

The Paris Charter for a New Europe, which was first endorsed at the 1990 Paris Summit, is the multilateral instrument which first institutionalized the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (now OSCE) through mechanisms for political co-operation and a set of permanent institutions.

The Charter for European Security, adopted at the 1999 Istanbul Summit, is aimed at strengthening the OSCE's ability to prevent conflicts, settle them and rehabilitate societies ravaged by war and destruction.

Following the official signing ceremony, President Kostunica received a warm welcome from Foreign Ministers of the other OSCE participating States.

The event was a highlight of the Opening Session of the Eighth OSCE Ministerial Council, taking place 27-28 November. During the next two days, the OSCE Foreign Ministers will discuss other issues, such as children in armed conflict areas, trafficking in human beings and fighting the spread of small arms and light weapons.

Visitors may follow the activities of the OSCE Minister Council by visiting the official website at //www.osce.org/austria2000

The website includes news, documents and photographs relating to the event, as well as live streaming video of the plenary sessions.

The OSCE Ministerial Council, which is convened on years when there is no OSCE Summit, is the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE.

At the Ministerial Council, Foreign Ministers review and assess the activities of the Organization and set new political goals for the future. The Ministers also take decisions on concrete measures to increase the operational capacities of the OSCE.