Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Covic praises OSCE work in his country

VIENNA, 7 February 2002 - Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, Nebojsa Covic, has praised the Organization's work in his country.

"Quite certainly, we would not have achieved the results we have in southern Serbia without the help of the OSCE and other international organizations", Mr. Covic said in his speech to the 55 OSCE Delegations today.

Referring to the Plan for the Resolution of the Crisis in southern Serbia, Mr. Covic acclaimed the OSCE's efforts in, among other issues, assisting with multi-ethnic police training and the reform of the media. He called upon the OSCE for continued help and support with these projects, as well as with the establishment of an independent judiciary and the fight against corruption and crime.

"I would like to emphasize that the activities of the OSCE in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) have greatly contributed to the stabilization of the economic situation in the country", Mr. Covic said, underlining that the rule of law is one precondition for the development of the economy.

Mr. Covic also underlined his Government's desire to reach a higher level of co-operation between the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK) and the governments of FRY and the Republic of Serbia. He stressed the importance of the municipal elections to be held in the autumn of 2002, in co-operation with the OSCE and UNMIK.

"Direct and full co-operation between the OSCE Missions in FRY in Belgrade and Pristina, and the OSCE Mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Presence in Albania are of exceptional importance for the regional security", Deputy Prime Minister Covic added.