<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>AXWORTHY CONDEMNS LATEST VIOLENCE IN KOSOVOAND CALLS FOR UNITED NATIONS ACTION</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">August 7, 1998 No. 185</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY CONDEMNS LATEST VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AND CALLS FOR UNITED NATIONS ACTION</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today condemned the continuing bloodshed
in Kosovo after the latest offensive by Serbian interior and Yugoslav forces.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The cycle of violence in Kosovo is a threat to international peace and security.
The growing humanitarian tragedy in which hundreds of civilians have been killed
and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, must be stopped," said Minister
Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada is approaching the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council to
urge them to address immediately the security and humanitarian dimension of the
Kosovo crisis. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"It is incumbent on the United Nations Security Council to become fully engaged
on the Kosovo issue. It must demonstrate the will to act, otherwise, the Kosovo
crisis could spiral out of control," said Mr. Axworthy. In this regard, the
Minister called on the Contact Group countries to set aside their differences.
The same message was conveyed to the 16-member NATO Council meeting in Brussels
today. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada was one of the first countries to respond to appeals for humanitarian
assistance in Kosovo. In light of the worsening human tragedy in this troubled
area of the world, Canada is presently working with international organizations on
further measures to address the crisis. Additional Canadian assistance is expected
to be announced in the next few days.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Axworthy reiterated his call for all parties in the conflict to put down their
arms and negotiate a peaceful settlement that would provide increased autonomy for
Kosovo within the territorial boundaries of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
(FRY). He noted that the FRY government bears particular responsibility for
finding a peaceful solution and must be held accountable for the excessive and
indiscriminate use of force against its own civilian population. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In July, Canada imposed a number of sanctions on the FRY government. Economic
measures included a ban on new investments in the Republic of Serbia and a freeze
of the funds and financial resources of the FRY and Serbian governments in Canada.
Pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1160, Canada also adopted amendments to
its UN Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Regulations to prohibit the export, sale,
supply or shipment of arms or related materiel to the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">-30-</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
</body>
</html>
