Statement
by
Ambassador Ivan Šimonovic
on Security Council action
on the Situation in Kosovo
New York, March 31, 1998
Mr. President,
The Republic of Croatia shares the concerns of the international community on the situation in Kosovo and the impending threat to international peace and security which it constitutes. Croatia, as a neighboring country of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, is vitally interested in a speedy resolution of the crisis.
Croatia believes that all political issues in Kosovo, including its future status, must be resolved between the Belgrade authorities and Kosovar Albanians through a genuinely democratic political process. The dialog has to take into account both the opinions of the Arbitration [Badinter] Commission of the EU/UN Conference on the former Yugoslavia on inviolability of borders of new States established following the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia and the tradition of territorial autonomy in Kosovo. The disrespect FRY showed for the opinions of the Badinter Commission regarding the territorial integrity of neighboring Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, is being returned in Kosovo like a boomerang.
Mr. President,
Croatia welcomes and emphasizes the importance of the readiness of the international community to help facilitate this process, as demonstrated by the draft resolution that the Security Council is about to adopt. My delegation believes that the willingness of the international community to play an active role in alleviating the tensions is vital for the achievement of a political solution. Croatia supports all the efforts undertaken by the international community in this regard, particularly the endeavors made by the Contact Group and the OSCE aimed at halting the escalation of the conflict.
Croatia joins others in condemning the violation of human rights in Kosovo and denounces all acts and forms of terrorism, regardless of whether they are committed by a state, group or individual, bearing in mind that State terrorism represents the most dangerous form of terrorism because of the resources available to States.
It is very clear that police repression is an unacceptable method for resolving political issues in Kosovo. Croatia expressed its disagreement with such repressive methods used by Serbian authorities even during the time of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, when the Socialist Republic of Croatia withdrew its police forces from Federal Units deployed in Kosovo. Today, as an independent and sovereign state, Croatia adds its voice to the efforts of the international community in seeking a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Mr. President,
Croatia is particularly concerned by the possible humanitarian catastrophe which could be caused by the present crisis. The international community cannot allow the same pattern of humanitarian disasters experienced in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to be repeated in Kosovo. On this issue Croatia speaks from the experience of a country which has during the past six years taken care of more than 800,000 refugees and displaced persons.
In this context, my delegation welcomes the fact that the resolution calls on the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to allow international humanitarian organizations access to Kosovo in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and alleviate the suffering of the civilian population. Croatia holds this as a humanitarian imperative.
Mr. President,
Croatia acknowledges the importance of the normalization of relations of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with the international community. However, I should like to stress that the participation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in international institutions is conditional upon its application for membership and the fulfillment of all criteria for acceptance into those institutions, as is the case with every new applicant. Consecutively, it is the understanding of my delegation that this is the only context within which operative paragraph 18 can be interpreted. The issue of succession to the former Yugoslavia cannot be linked to the Kosovo crisis, because it is a matter which involves all of the successor States to the former Yugoslavia and must be resolved on the basis of the opinions of the Badinter Commission and international law.
Thank you Mr. President.
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