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<title>CANADA VOICES CONCERNS OVER KOSOVO TO YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">August 14, 1998 No. 189</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA VOICES CONCERNS OVER KOSOVO TO YUGOSLAV
AMBASSADOR</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada today called in to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's (FRY) Ambassador to reiterate Canada's
deep concerns over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Kosovo. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The ambassador was told that Canada intends to use all means available to hold
Yugoslav authorities accountable for their actions in Kosovo and that Canada hoped
for co-operation from the FRY government in peace talks with the newly named
Kosovar negotiating team. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, leader of the Kosovar Albanians, named a five-member team
yesterday to reopen negotiations with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and
the FRY government. Talks between the two sides broke down in May. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I am hopeful that the naming of this team will begin a new phase in relations
between the Kosovars and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," said Foreign Affairs
Minister Lloyd Axworthy. "The responsibility for progress now lies with President
Milosevic. We expect his government to negotiate in good faith, with a view to
reaching a solution acceptable to all sides." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy condemned the continued use of anti-personnel mines by the Yugoslav
security forces along the borders with Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, and the FRY government's refusal to co-operate with the International
Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia on allegations of war crimes in
Kosovo.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I remain deeply concerned with the deterioration of the situation in Kosovo,
including the use of anti-personnel mines, the burning of villages and ongoing
human rights abuses by the Yugoslav security forces," Mr. Axworthy said.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Canadian Ambassador in Yugoslavia conveyed a similar message to the FRY
authorities in Belgrade.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><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>
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