Vol. 5 no. 4 o s c e APRIL 1998 NEWSLETTER OSCE Reports on Events in Kosovo IN THIS ISSUE • Troika Ministers Meet in Warsaw 3 • In Brief 4 • CiO visits Central Asia 5 • Focus on Central Asia 6 • OSCE Presence in Albania 8 • News from the Field 10 • Upcoming Events 11 • Website Info 12 • Report from the HCNM 13 • Update from the ODIHR 14 The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Daan Everts, visits an obser- vation post on the Albania/Kosovo province border. • Parliamentary Assembly 15 Photo: Bjorn E. Brustad Throughout April the OSCE closely mon- in-Office in a letter to Mr. Jovanovi\ 13 and 16 of United Nations Security itored events in and around Kosovo. Its on 17 April in which he wrote that the Council resolution No. 1160 was sub- reports to the United Nations and the referendum was more “rhetoric than a mitted to UN Secretary-General Kofi Contact Group have been instrumental meaningful effort to contribute to the Annan by the Polish Chairmanship. in keeping the international community improvement of the situation.” He drew The report concluded that “the basic abreast of developments. Mr. Jovanovi\’s attention to the state- demands of the OSCE have not been ment of the OSCE Troika Ministers on sufficiently considered by the authorities Referendum a “Rhetorical” Exercise 8 April in which they warned the FRY of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.” that “the organization of the referendum Furthermore, “the conditions required On 15 April the Minister for Foreign could have a disruptive effect on an for bringing about a meaningful dialogue Affairs of the Federal Republic of already inflamed situation.” have not improved, and a resolution of Yugoslavia (FRY), Zivadin Jovanovi\, the crisis is not in sight.” It reiterated that invited the OSCE to observe a referen- Contacts with the International the OSCE stands ready to participate dum on “whether or not the Republic of Community in efforts to advance a peaceful resolution Serbia should accept the involvement of to the conflict. foreign representatives in the resolution On 20 April a report on “The situation of problems in Kosovo and Metohija.” in Kosovo and on measures taken by This point was raised by the This offer was rejected by the Chairman- the OSCE” pursuant to paragraphs Chairman-in-Office on 21 April when 1 he met with United States Assistant Office, in addition to holding talks in FRY's relations with the OSCE. It Secretary of State Strobe Talbott in Belgrade, had also visited Priµtina. stated that “both President Miloµevi\ Warsaw. and Foreign Minister Jovanovi\ have The report outlined five conditions made it clear that Yugoslavia would not Field Operations Monitor Borders raised by the Contact Group in their be ready to allow the return of OSCE meeting of 25 March. On the issue of missions of long duration before being The security situation in and around “meaningful dialogue, without precon- granted full participation in the work Kosovo worsened. The OSCE Presence ditions, towards a peaceful solution to of the Organization.” in Albania which, in co-operation with the Kosovo crisis,” the report noted the European Community Monitoring that no progress had so far been made Another condition, the implementation Mission (ECMM), is monitoring the on either procedure or substance of the 1996 education agreement, was Albania/Kosovo province border, ob- “although both sides declared their referred to as “a positive step forward,” served increased military activity on readiness to enter into such a dialogue.” but the report stated that “there is a the Yugoslav side of the border with long way to go towards its full imple- Albania. The Presence’s field office in Concerning the condition relating to mentation.” Bajram Curri (in northern Albania) stopping violence and excessive use of reported some incidents along the bor- force, withdrawing special police units, The report noted that “basic require- der in April. The Presence's monitoring condemning terrorism and co-operating ments for a peaceful political solution capabilities (which are concentrated with the International Criminal Tribunal of the Kosovo crisis, as set forth by on the northern half of the Albanian for the former Yugoslavia, the Chair- the Contact Group and the OSCE, border with the FRY) will be strength- manship's report noted little progress have not been sufficiently met by the ened in the near future with the estab- and in some cases, particularly regard- authorities of the FRY.” It said that lishment of a monitoring team in Kukes. ing the security situation, warned of a “unconditional dialogue remains the only deterioration. way to achieve a durable and peaceful The situation along the border of the solution to the conflict. Responsibility former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia On the third point, “access to Kosovo,” for reaching such a solution lies on the and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia the report noted that there had been parties to the conflict, and first and is being monitored by the OSCE many high-ranking visitors to the foremost the FRY authorities.” Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje FRY, including to Priµtina, during the in co-operation with the United reporting period. However, it pointed This report was submitted to the Nations Preventive Deployment Force out that no visas had been granted Contact Group which met in Rome on (UNPREDEP). The Mission reports by the FRY to the United Nations 29 April. that the situation is “stable and calm” High Commissioner for Human Rights' and that “there has been no observable Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial or Contact Group Meets in Rome change in the pattern of border activity.” Summary Executions. It also reported that international humanitarian non- After that meeting, the Contact Group OSCE Submits “Report on Compliance” governmental organizations were expe- issued a statement in which it described riencing difficulties in receiving visas the OSCE report as “an important and In line with a statement made by the to the FRY. balanced contribution to the assessment Contact Group in Bonn on 25 March, of the situation.” which requested the OSCE to submit a The report also addressed the question “report on compliance,” the Chairman- of acceptance of the Gonzalez mission The statement made it clear that “the in-Office issued a report to the Contact and the return of the OSCE missions Contact Group regards an appropriate Group meeting in Rome on 29 April. It of long duration to Kosovo, Sandjak international involvement as an essen- noted that since the last Contact Group and Vojvodina. It noted the willingness tial factor to establish confidence meeting, all Troika Ministers had paid of the FRY authorities to accept the between the parties and to facilitate visits to the Federal Republic of mission of Mr. Gonzalez, provided talks.” A framework for dialogue and a Yugoslavia and that the Chairman-in- that his mandate was confined to the stabilisation package were proposed. o s c e NEWSLETTER 2 Vol. 5 no. 4 One of the elements of the stabilisation The statement of the Contact Group full integration in the international package is the reopening of the OSCE held out the possibility for closer inte- community, including participation in missions in the FRY, including Kosovo. gration of the FRY into the interna- the OSCE.” The Group members stated The Contact Group also stressed the tional community if certain conditions that “we want the FRY to reap the ben- importance that it attaches to the are met. It said that if the leadership in efits of membership in international González mission which is sees as a Belgrade agrees to the framework for financial and political institutions.” means of reducing tension, restoring dialogue and the stabilisation mea- confidence and improving the general sures outlined in the Contact Group The next meeting of the Contact Group prospects for dialogue. It stated that statement, and if the Gonzalez mission will take place in Paris in May. In “the top leadership in Belgrade should is launched, and substantive talks begin, the interim, the OSCE will continue its therefore immediately invite the González “the Contact Group will promote a clear monitoring activities and its efforts mission to start its work.” and achievable path towards Belgrade’s to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. Troika Ministers Meet in Warsaw On 8 April the Ministers of the OSCE without further delay the mission of The Ministers expressed appreciation Troika, the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Felipe González, the Personal Repre- for the moderate and constructive Norway and Denmark met in Warsaw sentative of the Chairman-in-Office and approach adopted by the neighbouring to review a number of regional issues Special Representative of the European countries, Albania, and the former of particular concern to the OSCE. Union. Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Also attending the meeting were the reviewed the steps which are being Secretary General of the OSCE, In a statement issued after the meeting undertaken by the OSCE to contribute Giancarlo Aragona, the High Commis- they noted that “the organization of to the prevention of any spillover from sioner on National Minorities, Max van the referendum could have a disruptive the Kosovo conflict. der Stoel, the Director of the Office for effect on an already inflamed situation.” Democratic Institutions and Human They also called on the FRY authorities Having agreed to the request by the Rights, Gérard Stoudmann, the OSCE to allow for the reinstatement of the Contact Group to report to its next Representative on Freedom of the OSCE's long-term missions in Kosovo, Meeting on the status of compliance of Media, Freimut Duve, the President of Sandjak and Vojvodina. the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Ministers discussed the preparations Javier Ruperez and the Head of the Disturbed by reports of the continued for this report and agreed to the mode Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, presence of the Serbian special police of the report's presentation.