U.S. Mission to OSCE Welcomes Yugoslavia as New Member
U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE)
Vienna
November 10, 2000
STATEMENT ON THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
Delivered by Ambassador David T. Johnson to the Permanent Council
Madame Chairperson, although already a truism, this is an historic
occasion for the OSCE.
The United States warmly welcomes the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
as the OSCE's newest member.
We also welcome Foreign Minister Svilanovic to the Permanent Council.
More significantly, we welcome the commitments that his country has
made.
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's commitment to the Helsinki Final
Act, the Paris Charter for a New Europe, the Charter for European
Security, all other OSCE documents and to "all OSCE principles and
standards" means that we stand on the verge of a new era in Southeast
Europe, one where peace and cooperation stand a better chance than
they have in more than a decade.
This OSCE has expended a great deal of time, effort, and expense to
seek to contribute to a resolution of the crisis in the Former
Yugoslavia, and you and your Minister, Madame Chairperson, have done a
great deal to bring us to this moment.
The OSCE has for a long time held out the promise of a close,
cooperative relationship with Yugoslavia, when it took the necessary
steps to become part of this gathering.
Now that day has come.
For over eight years, we have looked forward to the day when
Yugoslavia would join the OSCE on an equal basis with the other
successor states of the former Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia.
We look forward to Yugoslavia's full participation in our collective
commitments, most recently affirmed in the Charter for European
Security, "to build a free, democratic and more integrated Europe
where States are at peace with each other, and individuals and
communities live in freedom, prosperity, and security."
Yugoslavia's effort to implement this commitment represents a dramatic
change for the region and for all of us.
We congratulate President Kostunica on his leadership in bringing
peaceful, democratic change to Yugoslavia.
But more importantly, congratulate the people of Yugoslavia for their
bravery and their determination to vote against those who brought so
much suffering, pain, and isolation and for those who offered the hope
of a democratic, tolerant, and peaceful future.
We look forward to Yugoslavia's full compliance with its commitments
to the international community.
There are many difficult issues that Yugoslavia must address.
Among the most pressing are the many political prisoners imprisoned by
the former regime, including almost a thousand Kosovo Albanians. They
all should be treated with respect and should be released as soon as
possible. I want especially to mention one among them who is a member
of our OSCE staff, Mr. Bekim Kastrati.
We also expect Yugoslavia to comply with its obligation to cooperate
fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia. Permanent peace among neighbors will be elusive in the
region until there is an understanding that specific individuals, and
not entire ethnic groups, bear responsibility for the horrendous acts
that occurred. The Tribunal will play an important role in this
process.
In conclusion, I would like to restate the firm determination of the
United States to work with Yugoslavia, here in the OSCE and in other
settings, to help it address the many problems that remain and to
bring it fully into our community. We extend our hand of friendship,
and are pleased that today we are able to join others in welcoming
Yugoslavia into the OSCE.
Thank you, Madame Chairperson.
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