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<title>AXWORTHY DEEPLY CONCERNED OVER THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA'S REFUSAL TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">November 5, 1998 <em>(7:15 p.m. EST)</em> No. 257</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">AXWORTHY DEEPLY CONCERNED OVER </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA'S REFUSAL TO </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">CO-OPERATE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER
YUGOSLAVIA</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today expressed deep concern over the continued refusal by authorities
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) to co-operate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the
Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The FRY authorities have refused to issue visas to ICTY investigators who were to
accompany Chief Prosecutor Louise Arbour to the FRY. They have also explicitly stated they will not allow the
ICTY to carry out investigations on FRY territory, including in Kosovo. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has a clear responsibility under international law to co-operate fully with
the International Criminal Tribunal's investigations into possible war crimes committed on its territory," said
Minister Axworthy. "Canadian representatives in international fora such as the Security Council (of which
Canada will be a member as of January 1, 1999), NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) will insist on full compliance in that regard, since there can be no peace in Kosovo without
impartial justice." </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">UN Security Council Resolution 827 (1993) granted the ICTY jurisdiction over the entire territory of the former
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including Kosovo, for a period of time beginning January 1, 1991, and
ending at a time to be specified by the Security Council. UN Security Council Resolutions 1199 and 1203,
adopted recently, make it clear that the ICTY continues to have jurisdiction over Kosovo.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister Axworthy has written to FRY Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic to reiterate Canada's position on this
matter. The Yugoslav Ambassador to Canada was called in by a senior Departmental official, who
communicated Minister Axworthy's concerns.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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