Cohen Press Conference After NATO Informal Ministerial Oct. 10
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
(PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
DoD News Briefing
October 10, 2000
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM S. COHEN (PRESS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING NATO
INFORMAL MINISTERIAL MEETING IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND)
COHEN: This meeting comes at an extremely important time in NATO's
history. First, the decision of the Yugoslav people to vote out
Slobodan Milosevic offers the hope of freedom, peace and prosperity in
the Balkans. In Belgrade yesterday, President Kostunica promised "a
wave of democratic change" and other steps to end Yugoslavia's
isolation from Europe. Every defense minister at this meeting pledged
that his government is willing to offer appropriate help to
Yugoslavia, and the EU has already started dismantling sanctions.
Although many problems remain in the Balkans, it is now possible to
imagine a future zone of stability from the Atlantic to the Urals. In
the meantime, NATO must continue its work for peace as Bosnia and
Kosovo prepare for elections this fall.
For the last five years, troops led by NATO have given the people of
Bosnia a chance to live in peace and begin to heal the wounds of war.
For the last year we have provided the same opportunity to the people
of Kosovo. The skill with which NATO-led troops are performing their
tasks shows that the alliance is flexible, adaptive and relevant to
the security challenges facing Europe in the post Cold War era.
....
Q: Two questions, if I may, on Kosovo and Yugoslavia. Firstly, the EU
has moved quite swiftly to dismantle sanctions and to end the
isolation on Belgrade. What specific steps is the United States likely
to take in the same vein? And secondly how much of a break on
developing normal ties between the international community in Belgrade
is going to be a continuing failure by regime there to hand over Mr.
Milosevic to the International Tribunal?
COHEN: President Clinton, as you know, has made some public
statements. He has talked to President Kostunica on Sunday and they
had a very good conversation in terms of President Kostunica's desire
to take advantage of this opportunity to transform his country into a
democratic country. We would expect the President to consult very
closely, and very quickly with Congress, and that the sanctions that
are directed toward the people of Yugoslavia would be removed, those
dealing, certainly, with oil and infrastructure and other types that
directly impact on the people. We want to provide as much
encouragement as we can to the people, in terms of, economic support
and redevelopment. At the same time, keep and maintain those sanctions
that have been applied against Milosevic and his cronies. So, I think
there will be some selectivity there, but basically, trying to
re-enforce the aspirations of the people of Yugoslavia.
Secondly, you asked the question of basically of war criminals. In
essence, there is no walking away from the past. That the people of
Yugoslavia will have to face up to the responsibility if there is
going to be a democratic nation, and if it's going to have democratic
institutions, then an inherent part of that means it must hold people
accountable for their actions. That includes, both present, future,
but also, past. And so, we fully expect that Mr. Milosevic will have
to be held accountable for the actions he has taken or ordered, and
remain accountable in The Hague.
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