Security Council                                               SC/6978

4250^th Meeting (PM)                                          19 December 2000

 

 

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS ETHNIC ALBANIAN EXTREMIST VIOLENCE IN SOUTHERN SERBIA

 

 

      The Security Council this afternoon strongly condemned violent action by ethnic Albanian extremist groups in southern Serbia and called for an immediate cessation of violence in the area.

 

      In a statement read out by its President, Sergey Lavrov (Russian Federation), the Council called for the dissolution of ethnic Albanian extremist groups and for the immediate withdrawal from the area of all non-residents engaged in extremist activities. 

 

      As it welcomed specific measures taken by the Kosovo Force (KFOR) to increase surveillance of the border, confiscate weapons and disrupt illegal activity in the vicinity of the eastern administrative boundary, the Council called on KFOR and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to continue to address the problem.  Welcoming the constructive dialogue between KFOR and the Yugoslav and Serbian authorities, the Council also called on Kosovo Albanian leaders to contribute to the stability of the situation.

 

      Also in the statement, the Council welcomed the start of a dialogue between the Serbian and Yugoslav authorities and representatives of the affected communities.  In that regard, the Council welcomed the commitment of the Yugoslav authorities to work towards a peaceful settlement, based on democratic principles.

 

      The meeting, which began at 1:23 p.m., was adjourned at 1:25 p.m.

 

      The complete text of the statement, which will be issued as document S/PRST/2040, reads as follows:

 

      “The Security Council welcomes the briefing by Mr. Annabi on 19 December and the presence of the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the meeting.

 

      “The Security Council expresses its grave concern at the situation in certain municipalities in southern Serbia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and particularly in the Ground Safety Zone, as defined in the military-technical Agreement referred to in annex 2 of resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999.  It strongly condemns the violent action by ethnic Albanian extremist groups in southern Serbia, and calls for an immediate and complete cessation of violence in this area.  The Council reiterates its resolution 1244 (1999) in its entirety.

 

 

(more)

 

Security Council                       - 2 -             Press Release SC/6978

4250^th Meeting (PM)                                    19 December 2000

 

 

      “The Security Council calls for the dissolution of ethnic Albanian extremist groups.  The Council also calls for the immediate withdrawal from the area, and in particular from the Ground Safety Zone, of all non-residents engaged in extremist activities.

 

      “The Council welcomes the start of a dialogue between the Serbian and Yugoslav authorities and representatives of the affected communities which could facilitate a lasting settlement to the problem.

 

      “In this regard, the Council welcomes the commitment of the Yugoslav authorities to work towards a peaceful settlement, based on democratic principles, and to respect the provisions of resolution 1244 (1999) and the military-technical Agreement, as expressed in the letter of the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the President of the Security Council of 13 December 2000 (S/2000/1184).

 

      “The Security Council welcomes specific measures taken by the international security presence (KFOR) to address the problem, including increased surveillance of the border, confiscation of weapons and the disruption of identified and illegal activity within Kosovo in the vicinity of the eastern administrative boundary.  It welcomes the constructive dialogue between KFOR and the Yugoslav and Serbian authorities, including through the Joint Implementation Commission.  The Council calls on KFOR and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to continue to make all necessary efforts to address the problem.  The Council also calls on Kosovo Albanian leaders to contribute to the stability of the situation.

 

      “The Security Council welcomes the detailed public statement of the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization of 29 November 2000, and the strong message which this sent to extremist groups in the Presevo-Medvedja-Bujanovac area.

 

      “The Security Council will remain actively seized of the matter.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* *** *