June 13, 1998 No. 158

AXWORTHY OUTRAGED BY REPORTS OF

SERBIAN MINING

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy was outraged by reports that Serbia is laying anti-personnel (AP) mines along the border between Kosovo and Albania.

"This action is absolutely contrary to the will expressed by 126 countries which have signed the Ottawa Convention banning the use of AP mines," said Mr. Axworthy. "The fact that these instruments of terror will prevent the safe return of refugees to their homes is particularly offensive.

"If these reports are confirmed, President Milosevic's disregard for the concerns of the international community will lead to a further deterioration of the situation in Kosovo. We call on Serbia to stop the use of these odious weapons now."

Yesterday, Minister Axworthy and his Group of Eight (G-8) counterparts called on President Milosevic to cease all action by the security forces affecting the civilian population, to enable effective and continuous international monitoring in Kosovo, to facilitate the return of refugees to their homes and to make rapid progress in the dialogue with the Kosovo Albanian leadership.

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