OSCE Parliamentary Assembly leadership concerned about situation in Kosovo

TBILISI, 4 October 1998 - The leadership of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, meeting today in Tbilisi, Georgia, expressed deep concern for the deteriorating situation in Kosovo and renewed its appeal to all parties involved in the conflict to return to the principle of non-violence and to seriously negotiate a peaceful solution to the crisis before it is too late.

OSCE Assembly President, Helle Degn, speaking on behalf of the elected Officers of the Assembly, urged all those involved and concerned to do their utmost to prevent further loss of life and escalation of the conflict in Kosovo. The leadership of the Assembly renewed its appeal as stated in the Kosovo Resolution passed at its Annual Session earlier this year.

The Resolution in particular appeals to President Milosevic to speed up the full implementation of the commitments he entered into in the Moscow Joint Statement of 16 June 1998. The Resolution calls upon all sides to refrain from any form of violence, including the use of terrorism. In addition, the Resolution urges the government of the FRY and the leaders of the Albanian population in Kosovo to begin serious negotiations in order to bring about a peaceful and just solution to the conflict.

The leadership of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly again strongly appeals to the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) to receive a Special Representative of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE to promote the negotiation process, and to agree to the reopening of the OSCE Mission of Long Duration to Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina.

For further information, contact Mr. Jan Jooren, Press Officer, at the Sheraton Metechi Palace, Tbilisi, Georgia, +99532 946444.