Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)

CC/PIU/352-E
The Hague, 14 October 1998

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL ON THE AGREEMENTS ON KOSOVO

The President welcomes in principle the agreements on Kosovo that were provisionally concluded yesterday.

The President has not yet had the opportunity to review the agreements, and thus is not familiar with their provisions. She notes, however, conflicting media reports about whether they contain explicit provisions and mechanisms to ensure the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s compliance with the International Tribunal.

The President further understands that the Security Council will shortly review the agreement. In this context, the President recalls that in September she wrote to the Security Council and subsequently briefed its members over the persistent failure of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to surrender three persons indicted by the International Tribunal in November 1995. Mile Mrksic, Miroslav Radic and VeselinSljivancanin are charged with the murder of 260 unarmed men following the fall of the city of Vukovar in late 1991. Today they remain at liberty. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continues to flout the law and the will of the international community by refusing to transfer them to the International Tribunal.

Accordingly, the President would like to take this opportunity to re-iterate that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is legally required to co-operate with the International Tribunal. She reminds all involved parties of the need to ensure the FRY’s full compliance with all of its obligations towards the International Tribunal.

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