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OSCE Troika meets in Warsaw on regional issues
WARSAW 8 April 1998
WARSAW, 8 April 1998 - The Ministers of the OSCE Troika, the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Norway and Denmark met in Warsaw today and reviewed a number of regional issues of particular concern to the OSCE.
The Ministers reiterated their call for an unconditional dialogue between the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia and the leadership of the Kosovar Albanians. They reaffirmed their conviction that participation of an outside representative or representatives will provide an essential contribution to the dialogue. They urged the FRY authorities to accept without further delay the mission of Felipe Gonzalez, the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office and Special Representative of the European Union. They warned the FRY that the organization of the referendum could have a disruptive effect on an already inflamed situation. By taking this particular step, the Yugoslav authorities are contradicting their own publicly declared strong wish to become a fully-integrated member of the OSCE community. They called on the FRY authorities to allow for the reinstatement of the OSCE's long-term missions in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina.
Disturbed by reports of the continued presence of the Serbian special police force, the Ministers reiterated their call for their immediate withdrawal. They expressed deep concern over recent reports of further violence and urged both sides to use utmost restraint.
The Ministers welcomed the beginning of implementation of the Education Agreement and encouraged both sides to move the process forward quickly and in a constructive way.
The Ministers expressed appreciation for the moderate and constructive approach adopted by the neighbouring countries, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and reviewed the steps which are being undertaken by the OSCE to contribute to the prevention of any spillover from the Kosovo conflict.
Having agreed to the request by the Contact Group to report to its next Meeting on the status of compliance of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Ministers discussed the status of preparations for this report and agreed to the mode of its presentation. They also heard a report from the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, on his trips to Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the FRY.
The Ministers welcomed the decision of the Permanent Council to provide financial support for the OSCE supervision of the September elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, they called upon the international community to make substantial contributions for the purpose of partial funding of the elections. They also underlined the importance of increased participation by the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the election process.
With regard to Croatia, the Troika Ministers emphasized the importance of ensuring the unconditional return of refugees and reiterated the continued readiness of the OSCE to work with the Croatian authorities to that effect.
The Ministers encouraged the Assistance Group in Grozny to continue its efforts, including facilitating humanitarian aid, and called on all parties to offer their full co-operation.
Citing a continued need for rehabilitation and reconstruction in post-conflict areas, the Troika Ministers appealed to OSCE States to provide more resources and assistance.
They expressed satisfaction that the new financing mechanism for larger OSCE Missions and projects adopted by the Copenhagen Ministerial Meeting is now in operation.
The Ministers received a report by Denmark on the enhancing of the Secretariat's operational capabilities. They expressed support for the orientation and methods adopted for this review.
They welcomed the decision reached in Vienna to hold the next Ministerial Council Meeting in Oslo in December 1998 and to hold the next Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government in Summer-Autumn 1999. They re-emphasised their commitment to work actively on a Document-Charter on European Security for submission to the Heads of State and Government of the OSCE Countries.
The Ministers took note with satisfaction of the increased efforts by the Secretariat and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to strengthen co-operation between the OSCE and other international organizations active in Europe. In particular, they pointed to the example of the recent joint mission of the ODIHR to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia together with a delegation from the Council of Europe, the European Commission, UNHCR, the Soros Foundation and the Danish Refugee Council.
The Ministers welcomed the upcoming trip of the Chairman-in-Office to Central Asia as a signal of OSCE commitments to the region.
Also attending the meeting of the Ministerial Troika were: the Secretary General of the OSCE, Giancarlo Aragona; the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel; the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Gérard Stoudmann; the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve; the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Javier Ruperez and the Head of the Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Robert Barry.
The Ministers reiterated their call for an unconditional dialogue between the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia and the leadership of the Kosovar Albanians. They reaffirmed their conviction that participation of an outside representative or representatives will provide an essential contribution to the dialogue. They urged the FRY authorities to accept without further delay the mission of Felipe Gonzalez, the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office and Special Representative of the European Union. They warned the FRY that the organization of the referendum could have a disruptive effect on an already inflamed situation. By taking this particular step, the Yugoslav authorities are contradicting their own publicly declared strong wish to become a fully-integrated member of the OSCE community. They called on the FRY authorities to allow for the reinstatement of the OSCE's long-term missions in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina.
Disturbed by reports of the continued presence of the Serbian special police force, the Ministers reiterated their call for their immediate withdrawal. They expressed deep concern over recent reports of further violence and urged both sides to use utmost restraint.
The Ministers welcomed the beginning of implementation of the Education Agreement and encouraged both sides to move the process forward quickly and in a constructive way.
The Ministers expressed appreciation for the moderate and constructive approach adopted by the neighbouring countries, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and reviewed the steps which are being undertaken by the OSCE to contribute to the prevention of any spillover from the Kosovo conflict.
Having agreed to the request by the Contact Group to report to its next Meeting on the status of compliance of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Ministers discussed the status of preparations for this report and agreed to the mode of its presentation. They also heard a report from the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, on his trips to Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the FRY.
The Ministers welcomed the decision of the Permanent Council to provide financial support for the OSCE supervision of the September elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, they called upon the international community to make substantial contributions for the purpose of partial funding of the elections. They also underlined the importance of increased participation by the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the election process.
With regard to Croatia, the Troika Ministers emphasized the importance of ensuring the unconditional return of refugees and reiterated the continued readiness of the OSCE to work with the Croatian authorities to that effect.
The Ministers encouraged the Assistance Group in Grozny to continue its efforts, including facilitating humanitarian aid, and called on all parties to offer their full co-operation.
Citing a continued need for rehabilitation and reconstruction in post-conflict areas, the Troika Ministers appealed to OSCE States to provide more resources and assistance.
They expressed satisfaction that the new financing mechanism for larger OSCE Missions and projects adopted by the Copenhagen Ministerial Meeting is now in operation.
The Ministers received a report by Denmark on the enhancing of the Secretariat's operational capabilities. They expressed support for the orientation and methods adopted for this review.
They welcomed the decision reached in Vienna to hold the next Ministerial Council Meeting in Oslo in December 1998 and to hold the next Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government in Summer-Autumn 1999. They re-emphasised their commitment to work actively on a Document-Charter on European Security for submission to the Heads of State and Government of the OSCE Countries.
The Ministers took note with satisfaction of the increased efforts by the Secretariat and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to strengthen co-operation between the OSCE and other international organizations active in Europe. In particular, they pointed to the example of the recent joint mission of the ODIHR to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia together with a delegation from the Council of Europe, the European Commission, UNHCR, the Soros Foundation and the Danish Refugee Council.
The Ministers welcomed the upcoming trip of the Chairman-in-Office to Central Asia as a signal of OSCE commitments to the region.
Also attending the meeting of the Ministerial Troika were: the Secretary General of the OSCE, Giancarlo Aragona; the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel; the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Gérard Stoudmann; the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve; the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Javier Ruperez and the Head of the Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Robert Barry.