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Robert S. Gelbard, Special Representative of the President and Secretary of State for the Implementation of the Dayton Peace AgreementPress Conference,
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AMBASSADOR GELBARD: Good morning. Thank you for coming this early. I realize it's very early for all of you, probably too early. But since I am leaving shortly, I wanted to have a chance to talk to you since several of you tried to reach me last night.The United States Government is deeply concerned, and the international community, I think I can say on their behalf, is deeply offended by the absolutely outrageous behavior by outgoing President Bulatovic in inciting these illegal riots yesterday and last night, completely in contravention of international law and all accepted standards. Bulatovic made it very clear to me when he and I met on Monday that he accepted the results of the election. I was offended personally and on behalf of my government that he then denied that later in the day. His subsequent behavior makes it very clear that he is not a person who lives by international standards or accepts democracy. I hold him responsible along with his collaborators, for this outrageous, illegal behavior, and I also have to hold President Milosevic responsible for supporting these demonstrations and for not restraining his colleague, Mr. Bulatovic, for this kind of outrageous behavior. The United States Government supports the election of President-elect Djukanovic. We, and I know others, expect to see his inauguration take place peacefully, and we expect to see no interference in his ability to implement the government which he will be putting into place.
I am here in Belgrade to meet with President Milosevic tonight. The U.S. is tremendously saddened by the plight of the Yugoslav people because of circumstances beyond them. The international community has put into and kept in place the so-called "outer wall" of sanctions. Most recently the European Union removed trade preferences which will cost the people of this country about $250 million in exports. The United States has never provided formal diplomatic recognition of this country and does not have formal diplomatic relations. We, as well as others, have prevented the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" from joining the United Nations and its associate organizations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other international organizations. I think the kind of behavior witnessed over the last couple of days in Montenegro is a very good example of why. Until and unless the government of this country and its political leaders come to accept the international standards of behavior and democratic processes, and recognize and accept democratic processes or what the world expects to happen, the outer wall of sanctions will not be lifted. We feel great sympathy for the people of Yugoslavia, but its leadership has to be held accountable and taken to account for this kind of outrageous behavior.
Today our Chief of Mission, Richard Miles, and, I am told, approximately 50 other ambassadors are in Montenegro for the inauguration along with other individuals. We fully expect that this inauguration will take place peacefully -- and it had better take place peacefully, because otherwise the government of this country will have continued to lead its people down the path toward greater misery and sadness. We, the United States, hope that this can be changed. But it is up Slobodan Milosevic and his friends to lead this country and its people toward a better life.
Thank you.
QUESTION: If there is no peace there -- there is no peaceful demonstration -- what consequences will take place, what measures will you take, or your government ?
AMBASSADOR GELBARD: I don't want to get into any specifics right now, but I can promise you that the situation between the international community and this country will not get better, it will get worse.
QUESTION: Did you have a chance to talk to President Milosevic about this?
AMBASSADOR GELBARD: I did not. I'll be talking to him tonight.
QUESTION: Sanctions?
AMBASSADOR GELBARD: As I said, I don't want to predict or hypothesize at this point anything, but as I say I can tell you that the situation would not get better. I would also mention that tomorrow evening I'll be meeting in Madrid with Felipe Gonzalez, who is the OSCE's designated representative for relationships dealing with democratization in the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia." I know that he'll be extremely interested in hearing what I have to say as a result of this visit.
QUESTION: What did the United Nations and the international community do (inaudible) regarding Eastern Slavonia?
AMBASSADOR GELBARD: In eastern Slavonia, which is where I am going this morning, we have been very pleased overall with the successful management of the UNTAES Mission over the last 2 years. I was in eastern Slavonia for the first time 2 years ago, exactly. At that time two Serb soldiers stuck AK-47s in my chest, and I was greeted by the Serb community in a way that didn't make me feel very good. Nevertheless, what we support and have supported is a peaceful transition under all the provisions of the Erdut Agreement, UN resolutions, and that has happened so far. But, as we have made repeatedly clear, we fully support the right of all Croatian citizens to be able to live in peace in Croatia. That includes Serbs, that includes everybody else. We hold Croatia to a very high standard, as I have discussed on several occasions with President Tudjman, Foreign Minister Granic, and many others in the government. Two months ago, based on discussions I had with President Tudjman, they used their influence to hand over 10 indicted war criminals to us and then to The Hague tribunal, and they took other measures which showed that the Government of Croatia wants to meet international standards, wants to be accepted. But, we won't tolerate -- and other governments won't tolerate -- the idea of expulsion of Serbs. On the other hand, we also would urge Serbs -- Croatian Serbs -- to stay in Croatia. We are pressing and have pressed very hard for the right of Croatian Serbs to be able to return to their residences and their property in the Krajina especially. Secretary of State Albright was in the Krajina as you know back in June, and we will continue to press very hard to assure that the rights of all Croatian citizens are respected fully.
QUESTION: 'Til now the Yugoslav army didn't interfere in Montenegro, but if it so did, should we expect any measures, any reactions from NATO?
AMBASSADOR GELBARD: I certainly would not want to comment on that.
QUESTION: (inaudible) message to the Albanian leaders . . .
AMBASSADOR GELBARD: Well, we've made our position on Kosovo very clear. We feel that there has to be dialogue between President Milosevic's government and the Kosovar Albanian people. We strongly believe that violence is not the answer from either side, and we strongly oppose any kind of terrorist activity from Kosovar Albanians or anybody else, as well as violence fomented by government security forces. We do feel that Kosovo is an integral part of the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," but dialogue is critical and represents the best possible way for moving forward to achieve what is necessary, so that the rights of the Kosovar Albanian people are fully recognized and implemented. A first important step would be for President Milosevic to honor and implement the terms of the education agreement, starting by opening up the university again for Kosovar Albanian students to re-enter in ways which are clearly understood to be necessary.
Thank you.
[End of Document]
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