SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES CONCLUSION OF RAMBOUILLET NEGOTIATIONS LEADING TO AGREEMENT ON SUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO
Press Release
SG/SM/6902
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES CONCLUSION OF RAMBOUILLET NEGOTIATIONS LEADING TO AGREEMENT ON SUBSTANTIAL AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO
19990223 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General welcomes the conclusion of negotiations led by the Contact Group in Rambouillet, France, that have led to an agreement on substantial autonomy for Kosovo, while respecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He is encouraged to note in the Co-Chairmen's conclusions following the talks that they have provided for a political framework, thereby laying the groundwork for finalizing the implementation Chapters of the Agreement, including the modalities of the invited international civilian and military presence in Kosovo.
The Secretary-General is pleased that there is a commitment to attend a conference, covering all aspects of implementation, on 15 March, and hopes that it will result in a comprehensive interim agreement. He wishes to congratulate the members of the Contact Group for their persistence and initiative in forging this framework, and trusts that its fulfilment will provide genuine autonomy for the long-suffering people of Kosovo.
The Secretary-General strongly supports the appeal made by the Contact Group to the parties to abstain from any actions which could undermine the achievements of Rambouillet, to honour fully and immediately the ceasefire which should be in place throughout Kosovo, to abstain from all provocative actions, to provide for the security of all international personnel, and to abide fully by their commitments of October 1998 and to comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions.
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