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Declaration adopted on OSCE role in South-Eastern Europe
VIENNA 28 November 2000
VIENNA, 28 November 2000 - Foreign Ministers and representatives of 55 OSCE participating States adopted the following declaration on the "Role of the OSCE in South-Eastern Europe" at the end of the Eighth OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Vienna today:
"1. We warmly welcome the admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the OSCE on 10 November 2000. We applaud the democratic change and congratulate the people of Yugoslavia on their determination to vote for those who offered a democratic, tolerant and peaceful future. The past decade of undemocratic rule brought tremendous sufferings for all the people of former Yugoslavia. But now the commitment of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the principles and standards of the OSCE, as well as its readiness to co-operate with European institutions, regional and sub-regional arrangements and with its neighbours, offer new perspectives for peace and prosperity in South-Eastern Europe. We declare our determination to make full use of these opportunities. We call on the Yugoslav people and the government to continue their efforts towards full democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. We reconfirm the readiness of the OSCE to assist the Yugoslav people to this end. We welcome the readiness of the Yugoslav government to have an OSCE presence in the country. We appreciate the steps undertaken by the Yugoslav government to ensure an early amnesty of all political prisoners.
"2. The consolidation of stability and prosperity in Kosovo on the basis of substantial autonomy, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, pending final settlement in accordance with UNSCR 1244 remains a major challenge for the international community. Some progress has been made in building a democratic society. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo as an essential part of UNMIK has made a crucial and effective contribution through its work in organising the recent local elections . They represent an important step towards representative local authorities for the inhabitants of Kosovo and have enabled them to demonstrate political responsibility, inter alia, through their support for moderation as the way ahead. The challenge remains to create an environment where members of the Serb community, and other minorities and all those who fled can return home in safety, and where all citizens are able to enjoy fully their rights, including participation in political life. We firmly reject violence and any form of ethnic discrimination. We call on all to put an end to violence and to avoid its spreading as well as to work together towards a democratic and multi-ethnic society based on reconciliation and justice. The OSCE will in co-operation with the elected councils continue and strengthen its contribution to the implementation of UNSCR 1244 in the area of institution- and democracy building, in particular through its work in the field of human rights, rule of law and media development. We particularly acknowledge the excellent work by the OSCE Kosovo Police Service School which has so far trained 2250 police officers. The establishment of a strong, credible police force is central to the internal stabilisation of Kosovo.
"3. In Bosnia and Herzegovina we observe generally positive trends regarding minority returns which should be sustained and supported. The work of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina was essential to the success of recent elections. We note with satisfaction that in these elections multi-ethnic and pluralist parties have made some gains. The result of the elections should be implemented without delay. We call on all elected officials to speedily form fully effective governmental bodies. We consider it of utmost importance that the Bosnian citizens start taking over the responsibility for their own future. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to support the efforts of the High Representative to this end.
"4. Major positive developments have taken place in Croatia after free and fair elections early this year. The Croatian government has achieved considerable and substantial progress in fulfilling its international commitments since the beginning of this year. We particularly welcome that the new authorities have taken essential measures to improve regional co-operation and show a clear determination to implement the Dayton Agreement.
"5. Elections both at national and local level held in several countries in South Eastern Europe this year have resulted in major contributions to peace, reconciliation and justice throughout the region. They offer the promise of substantial further progress towards our goal of a Europe without divisions, wholly at peace, and fully free. We recognise the important work of ODIHR in supporting free elections and look forward to an active role for it in the forthcoming elections in Serbia, FRY. We welcome these developments and pledge to continue to work with the people and governments of the countries concerned on further democratisation, rule of law, peace implementation, reconciliation and reconstruction. We are confident that more progress is possible on a range of outstanding issues, including the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and arms control. Based on its broad network of missions in the region and in accordance with their mandates the OSCE will support efforts to this end.
"6. We stress the importance of regional co-operation as a means to foster good neighbourly relations, stability and economic development. We will continue to work together towards this goal. We reaffirm our commitment to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, which is under the auspices of the OSCE, as an important long-term and comprehensive initiative to promote these objectives. Participating States will continue to contribute further to the goals of the Stability Pact, through human, financial and technical resources. We note the decision of the Permanent Council on the adoption of the OSCE Regional Strategy for South Eastern Europe.
"7. During the Zagreb Summit on 24 November, 2000, participants declared that democracy and regional reconciliation on the one hand, and the rapprochement of each of the countries concerned with the European Union on the other form a whole. The recent historic changes are opening the way for regional reconciliation and co-operation. They enable the countries in the region to establish new relations, beneficial to all of them, for the stability of the region and peace and stability of the European continent. They give new impetus to a policy of good neighbourliness based on the negotiated settlement of disputes, respect for the rights of minorities, respect for international obligations, including as has been previously stressed, the obligation of all participating States under relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions to co-operate fully with the ICTY. They also give impetus to a lasting resolution of the problem of refugees and displaced persons and respect for states' international borders. In this context, the way is now open to all those countries to move closer to the European Union, on the basis of an individual approach, as part of the stabilisation and association process.
"8. We welcome the work of OSCE in assisting in the implementation of Art II and IV of Annex 1-B of the Dayton/Paris Peace Accords and its contribution to the creation of a framework for peace and stability in South Eastern Europe. We support measures under Article II such as transparency of defence budgets, information exchange on military structures and other co-operative activities that help to increase mutual confidence and stability in the region; and efforts under Article IV in the field of arms control
"9.The new political situation generated by the participation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the OSCE and Vienna Document provides a fresh impetus to the negotiations on regional stability under Article V of Annex 1-B of the Dayton/Paris Peace Accords. In that light, we call upon the States participating in the Article V negotiations to aim to conclude their work on the basis of the mandate as soon as possible and no later than by the next meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council. The implementation of such an agreement could be supported by the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe."
"1. We warmly welcome the admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the OSCE on 10 November 2000. We applaud the democratic change and congratulate the people of Yugoslavia on their determination to vote for those who offered a democratic, tolerant and peaceful future. The past decade of undemocratic rule brought tremendous sufferings for all the people of former Yugoslavia. But now the commitment of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the principles and standards of the OSCE, as well as its readiness to co-operate with European institutions, regional and sub-regional arrangements and with its neighbours, offer new perspectives for peace and prosperity in South-Eastern Europe. We declare our determination to make full use of these opportunities. We call on the Yugoslav people and the government to continue their efforts towards full democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. We reconfirm the readiness of the OSCE to assist the Yugoslav people to this end. We welcome the readiness of the Yugoslav government to have an OSCE presence in the country. We appreciate the steps undertaken by the Yugoslav government to ensure an early amnesty of all political prisoners.
"2. The consolidation of stability and prosperity in Kosovo on the basis of substantial autonomy, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, pending final settlement in accordance with UNSCR 1244 remains a major challenge for the international community. Some progress has been made in building a democratic society. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo as an essential part of UNMIK has made a crucial and effective contribution through its work in organising the recent local elections . They represent an important step towards representative local authorities for the inhabitants of Kosovo and have enabled them to demonstrate political responsibility, inter alia, through their support for moderation as the way ahead. The challenge remains to create an environment where members of the Serb community, and other minorities and all those who fled can return home in safety, and where all citizens are able to enjoy fully their rights, including participation in political life. We firmly reject violence and any form of ethnic discrimination. We call on all to put an end to violence and to avoid its spreading as well as to work together towards a democratic and multi-ethnic society based on reconciliation and justice. The OSCE will in co-operation with the elected councils continue and strengthen its contribution to the implementation of UNSCR 1244 in the area of institution- and democracy building, in particular through its work in the field of human rights, rule of law and media development. We particularly acknowledge the excellent work by the OSCE Kosovo Police Service School which has so far trained 2250 police officers. The establishment of a strong, credible police force is central to the internal stabilisation of Kosovo.
"3. In Bosnia and Herzegovina we observe generally positive trends regarding minority returns which should be sustained and supported. The work of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina was essential to the success of recent elections. We note with satisfaction that in these elections multi-ethnic and pluralist parties have made some gains. The result of the elections should be implemented without delay. We call on all elected officials to speedily form fully effective governmental bodies. We consider it of utmost importance that the Bosnian citizens start taking over the responsibility for their own future. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to support the efforts of the High Representative to this end.
"4. Major positive developments have taken place in Croatia after free and fair elections early this year. The Croatian government has achieved considerable and substantial progress in fulfilling its international commitments since the beginning of this year. We particularly welcome that the new authorities have taken essential measures to improve regional co-operation and show a clear determination to implement the Dayton Agreement.
"5. Elections both at national and local level held in several countries in South Eastern Europe this year have resulted in major contributions to peace, reconciliation and justice throughout the region. They offer the promise of substantial further progress towards our goal of a Europe without divisions, wholly at peace, and fully free. We recognise the important work of ODIHR in supporting free elections and look forward to an active role for it in the forthcoming elections in Serbia, FRY. We welcome these developments and pledge to continue to work with the people and governments of the countries concerned on further democratisation, rule of law, peace implementation, reconciliation and reconstruction. We are confident that more progress is possible on a range of outstanding issues, including the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and arms control. Based on its broad network of missions in the region and in accordance with their mandates the OSCE will support efforts to this end.
"6. We stress the importance of regional co-operation as a means to foster good neighbourly relations, stability and economic development. We will continue to work together towards this goal. We reaffirm our commitment to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, which is under the auspices of the OSCE, as an important long-term and comprehensive initiative to promote these objectives. Participating States will continue to contribute further to the goals of the Stability Pact, through human, financial and technical resources. We note the decision of the Permanent Council on the adoption of the OSCE Regional Strategy for South Eastern Europe.
"7. During the Zagreb Summit on 24 November, 2000, participants declared that democracy and regional reconciliation on the one hand, and the rapprochement of each of the countries concerned with the European Union on the other form a whole. The recent historic changes are opening the way for regional reconciliation and co-operation. They enable the countries in the region to establish new relations, beneficial to all of them, for the stability of the region and peace and stability of the European continent. They give new impetus to a policy of good neighbourliness based on the negotiated settlement of disputes, respect for the rights of minorities, respect for international obligations, including as has been previously stressed, the obligation of all participating States under relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions to co-operate fully with the ICTY. They also give impetus to a lasting resolution of the problem of refugees and displaced persons and respect for states' international borders. In this context, the way is now open to all those countries to move closer to the European Union, on the basis of an individual approach, as part of the stabilisation and association process.
"8. We welcome the work of OSCE in assisting in the implementation of Art II and IV of Annex 1-B of the Dayton/Paris Peace Accords and its contribution to the creation of a framework for peace and stability in South Eastern Europe. We support measures under Article II such as transparency of defence budgets, information exchange on military structures and other co-operative activities that help to increase mutual confidence and stability in the region; and efforts under Article IV in the field of arms control
"9.The new political situation generated by the participation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the OSCE and Vienna Document provides a fresh impetus to the negotiations on regional stability under Article V of Annex 1-B of the Dayton/Paris Peace Accords. In that light, we call upon the States participating in the Article V negotiations to aim to conclude their work on the basis of the mandate as soon as possible and no later than by the next meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council. The implementation of such an agreement could be supported by the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe."