A few moments
ago I instructed General Wesley Clark to suspend NATO's air operations against
Yugoslavia.
I have taken this
decision following consultations with the North Atlantic Council and
confirmation from SACEUR that the full withdrawal of the Yugoslav security
forces from Kosovo has begun.
The withdrawal of
Yugoslav security forces from Kosovo is taking place in accordance with the
Military-Technical Agreement that was concluded between NATO and the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia yesterday evening. It is also consistent with the
agreement between the FRY and EU and Russian special envoys of 3 June.
I have just
written to the Secretary General of the United Nations and the President of the
United Nations Security Council to inform them of these developments.
I urge all parties
to the conflict to seize this opportunity for peace. I call on them to comply
with their obligations under the agreements that have been concluded these past
days and with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The violence must
cease immediately. The Yugoslav security forces must withdraw, and all armed
Kosovar groups must demilitarize. Violence or non-compliance by any party will
not be tolerated.
I would like to
take this opportunity to salute General Clark, his commanders and all the men
and women of Operation Allied Force who have bravely contributed so much to the
cause of peace and security for all the people of Kosovo.
Ensemble avec le
reste de la communauté internationale, l'OTAN aidera tous les réfugiés et
toutes les personnes déplacées à rentrer dans leurs foyers. Nous aiderons tous
les habitants du Kosovo - quelque soit leur origine ethnique - à reconstruire
une société libre, débarrassée de la répression violente qu'elle a connue
pendant si longtemps. Depuis le début de l'opération Force Alliée, j'ai insisté
sur le fait que l'OTAN n'a aucun grief contre le peuple de Yugoslavie. J'espère
que les Serbes du Kosovo resteront chez eux. Les forces de l'OTAN défendront
leurs droits tout autant que les droits des autres communautés ethniques du
Kosovo.
L'OTAN avance à
grands pas dans ses préparatifs pour la KFOR. Dans quelques heures, le Conseil
de l'Atlantique Nord se réunira pour approuver formellement le déploiement de
forces de l'OTAN au Kosovo. Ces forces créeront un environnement sûr permettant
le retour des réfugiés et le processus de reconstruction. Aujourd'hui, une
réunion importante se tient à Cologne pour développer un Pacte de Stabilité
pour l'Europe du Sud-Est. L'OTAN est prête à contribuer pleinement à cette
initiative.
All this would not
have been possible without the cohesion and the determination of all Allies. As
our air operations against Yugoslavia are now suspended, NATO is ready for its
new mission; a mission to bring people back to their homes and to build a
lasting and just peace in Kosovo.
http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/1999/p99-093e.htm