OSCE Permanent Council condemns recent attacks in Kosovo

VIENNA, 22 February 2001 - The Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe condemns in the strongest terms the attack against a bus near the town of Podujevo in Kosovo, FRY, on 16 February 2001. This attack has so far cost the lives of 10 Serb civilians. This was followed by a landmine attack in Lucane in southern Serbia in which three Serb police officers were killed.

These cowardly attacks undermine the efforts of the international community to build a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo, and the efforts of the authorities in the FRY and Serbia to find a peaceful resolution to the tension in southern Serbia. They are attacks on the majority of people, of all ethnic groups, who want nothing more than to live in harmony with their neighbours. They are perpetrated by those who want to make peace and reconciliation among ethnic groups impossible, and they cannot be allowed to succeed.

The OSCE Permanent Council calls for an end to violence and urges all concerned to show restraint and to remain calm, however great the provocation. The extremists and criminals responsible for these senseless acts of terrorism must be speedily brought to justice and punished in accordance with the law.

The members of the Permanent Council express their deepest sympathies to the families of the victims of these attacks.

The OSCE Permanent Council is the main decision-making body for the Organization. Representatives from the 55 participating States meet weekly in Vienna.

For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.org