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

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
January 18, 1999

U.S. Welcomes OSCE Statement on Kosovo

The United States welcomes today’s strong statement by the OSCE Chairmanship condemning the brutal murders of Kosovo Albanian civilians in the town of Racak on January 15. The Chairman's statement reflects the collective judgment of the international community that the FRY has not complied with the obligations it has undertaken in the agreement establishing the Kosovo Verification Mission.

Belgrade has also failed to comply with the terms of UN Security Council Resolutions 1199, 1203, 1207 and earlier resolutions. We are particularly appalled at the continuing refusal of Serbian and FRY authorities to acknowledge the authority and jurisdictional responsibility of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to conduct investigations in Kosovo. We strongly support the OSCE Chairmanship's insistence that Serbian and FRY authorities cooperate fully with ICTY lead prosecutor Louise Arbour and allow ICTY investigators unrestricted access to Racak as well as to those suspected of responsibility for the murders. The UN Security Council's demand for full cooperation with the ICTY and its investigators is clear and unequivocal.

We note with grave concern that Judge Arbour was denied entry to the FRY at the border with the FYR Macedonia. There can be no excuse for the FRY's failure to meet its obligations to the UN Security Council and the ICTY. Belgrade authorities cannot hope to improve relations with the international community as long as they continue to demonstrate contempt for its judgements and fundamental principles of international law. We expect the FRY to live up to its commitments to the OSCE and to the international community, and to cooperate fully with the KVM, ICTY, and all others working to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the situation in Kosovo.

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