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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
January 15, 1999

Security of the Kosovo Verification Mission

Today in Kosovo, two OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission personnel were shot and wounded. Neither individual is American and their injuries are not life-threatening.

The safety of our international verifiers in Kosovo is of prime importance to the United States and all other OSCE member countries. All parties in Kosovo must cooperate fully with the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission and adhere to their international obligations to ensure the safety of its members.

Under the OSCE KVM agreement, the FRY government has guaranteed the safety and security of the KVM and all its members. We call on the FRY to adhere fully to this obligation. The Kosovo Liberation Army has also undertaken similar commitments and must also ensure that these obligations are met.

Today's events do not change the importance of the Kosovo Verification Mission nor diminish the vital contribution they are making to managing and reducing tensions in Kosovo.

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