U.S.DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(New York, New York)
September 14, 2000
REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT AT PRESS
AVAILABILITY
September 14, 2000
New York, New York
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Good afternoon. I just came from a working lunch
with my counterparts from the European Union, including Commissioner
Patten and High Representative Solana. It is always a pleasure to have
a productive meal with my friends, especially when the Europeans pick
up the bill. (Laughter.) I can joke about burden-sharing today because
the US and the EU partnership is strong and growing stronger. The
range of issues we invariably discuss underscores the depth and
breadth of our relationship.
During our meeting, we devoted a considerable amount of time to
Southeast Europe. And there are a series of critical elections in the
weeks ahead, and we are united in our call for free and fair elections
in Serbia. We discussed ways that the US and the EU can make clear our
solidarity and increase our support for the courageous men and women
who are demanding their rights in cities and towns across Serbia. We
also agreed that there is a need to reinforce our efforts under the
Stability Pact to carry out projects that have a timely and tangible
impact on people's daily lives. And this can only be done by backing
up our pledges with resources and by ensuring that we all meet our
Stability Pact obligations.
Of course, winter has always been a time of testing in the region, and
we are already discussing with our European partners a strategy for
assisting Kosovo's communities in meeting the needs of the most
vulnerable.
Our productive dialogue on European Security and Defense Policy also
continued today, and we are now working on the basis of a shared
vision, one that strengthens both European capabilities and the
trans-Atlantic link. We will continue to work together closely to
ensure that the NATO-EU linkages enhance both institutions and to
support the involvement of non-EU NATO allies in EU security
deliberations.
...
Q: Madame Secretary, I am supposed to give you a very warm welcome on
behalf of the United Nations Correspondent Association, since I am the
president. Welcome. It's good to have you be alive.
The first question is regard -- actually, it's not first, but it's
regarding Serbia. Yesterday, one of the opposition leader, Mr.
Djindjic, have said on the -- (inaudible) -- radio that as soon as
they are becoming opposition and they win the election, obviously they
are going to apply for the seat at the United Nations. Now, what do
you think if that is going to jeopardize somehow in the long range the
prosperity of Montenegro for solving all its problem in a way to
become independent state?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, first of all, you've asked a
lot of different questions. I think that we have felt for some time
that the current occupant of the Yugoslav seat at the United Nations
is not the SFRY, which is what they theoretically represent, and that
Tito's flag is still out in front of the United Nations. The other
states that were part of Yugoslavia have reapplied for membership as
themselves, and Serbia -- hopefully a free and democratic FRY which
would also include Montenegro -- would, at the appropriate time,
reapply.
We support the democratic forces of Montenegro and we have discussed
at great length the importance of the role that President Djukanovic
is playing. That is not an independent Montenegro, but a Montenegro
which can and -- if the opposition wins -- will be able, we hope, to
operate with in a more democratic Serbia -- Yugoslavia.
And I think that what is important here is that the opposition in
Serbia continue to work very hard for these elections which,
unfortunately, we are concerned that Milosevic will steal. But I think
that it is important therefore for the international community and for
the Serbian people to be vigilant throughout the whole process,
especially the counting process, so that they can expose what happened
and reject the results if the election is stolen.
I think that the Serbian people should have a right, just like
everybody in the world, to vote the government they want and to have a
free and fair count.
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