NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY CONDEMNS MASSACRE IN KOSOVO
January 16, 1999 No. 5
AXWORTHY CONDEMNS MASSACRE IN KOSOVO
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today condemned the murder on January 15 of civilians in the village of Racak in Kosovo. According to
monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Kosovo Verification Mission, at least 35 civilians, including women and
a child, were murdered execution style.
"Canada condemns this despicable victimization of civilians and demands that the perpetrators be held fully accountable for their actions," said
Minister Axworthy.
A team of investigators from the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, led by Chief Prosecutor Louise Arbour, intends to
travel to Kosovo immediately to investigate the site of the massacre. The Tribunal has a mandate to prosecute those who commit war crimes,
crimes against humanity and genocide in the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
"Canada expects the Yugoslav authorities to meet their obligations under international law by co-operating fully with the Tribunal's investigations,
including by granting full and immediate access to the investigators. There can be no peace in Kosovo without justice," said Minister Axworthy.
Canada calls once again for an immediate end to all violence and violations of human rights and humanitarian law in Kosovo.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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