NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY URGES PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO RESPECT ALL NOVEMBER 17 ELECTION RESULTS
January 3, 1997 No. 2
AXWORTHY URGES PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC TO RESPECT ALL
NOVEMBER 17 ELECTION RESULTS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today urged President Milosevic to respect
all of the results of the November 17 elections or risk further isolation of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) by the international community. The Minister
was commenting on the reply given today by the government of the FRY, to the
December 27 report made by Felipe Gonzalez, the Personal Representative of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairman-in-office.
The Minister stated that, "Canada fully supports the Gonzalez report, which
clearly recommends that all of the results of the November 17 elections be
respected by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The response
by the FRY Foreign Minister today, confirming some victories for the opposition,
still does not fully acknowledge all of the results of the November 17 elections."
Canada discussed this issue with its OSCE partners at a special meeting today in
Vienna. Canada is in full agreement with the conclusions of the OSCE Chairman-in-office, which call for prompt and complete implementation of the recommendations
of the Gonzalez report.
Minister Axworthy took note of the FRY government's desire to integrate with the
international community. At the same time, he reminded President Milosevic that
this cannot be done until the FRY demonstrates its commitment to international
standards of democracy and human rights. "President Milosevic should respect the
voices of his own citizens, who are in their sixth week of protest against his
decision to annul some of the November 17 election results," said Mr. Axworthy.
Canada's ambassador to Belgrade will deliver the same message to the government of
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
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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