IN REMARKS ON BEHALF OF SECRETARY-GENERAL, HIS KOSOVO SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, BERNARD KOUCHNER, CONDEMNS MURDER OF DEFENCELESS FARMERS

26 July 1999

Press Release
SG/SM/7077

IN REMARKS ON BEHALF OF SECRETARY-GENERAL, HIS KOSOVO SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, BERNARD KOUCHNER, CONDEMNS MURDER OF DEFENCELESS FARMERS

19990726 Remarks Made after Joint Implementation Commission Meeting on Demilitarization of UCK at KFOR Headquarters

The following statement was issued in Pristina on Saturday, 24 July, by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK):

I am horrified by the murders last night. Not only because 14 people were massacred -- 14 defenceless farmers peacefully harvesting hay -- but because we had been making real progress in recent days -- significant steps towards stability and democratic self-government in Kosovo.

The world knows what happened here in Kosovo in the past months and years. And the world intervened in a powerful and unprecedented way -- to end the suffering and injustice and killing. But the world did not intervene to make Kosovo safe for revenge and intolerance, and the world must condemn these cowardly killings and those responsible for them.

In the name of the United Nations Secretary-General and the international community in Kosovo, I expect an urgent and relentless investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay. I take very seriously General Çeku's promise to assist personally in this investigation.

All democrats of the world must stand up and reject this kind of horrible massacre. I personally, in the name of Kofi Annan, will closely follow this investigation.

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