August 14, 1998 No. 189

CANADA VOICES CONCERNS OVER KOSOVO TO YUGOSLAV AMBASSADOR

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.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

"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.

The Canadian Ambassador in Yugoslavia conveyed a similar message to the FRY authorities in Belgrade.

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(613) 995-1851

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