Press Release M-EAPC-2 (2000)116 6 Dec. 2000

Chairman's summary of the meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Defence Ministers Session The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Defence Ministers met today in Brussels. Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General to the Balkans, Mr. Carl Bildt addressed the Ministers and provided his views on recent developments in the Balkans and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Joseph Ralston, provided a military update on the KFOR and SFOR operations. Ministers welcomed the democratic changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a positive step towards enhancing security and stability in the region. They welcomed the admittance of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to international organisations and noted the importance of seeking the cooperation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on issues related to the full implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords and UNSC Resolution 1244. Ministers reviewed the ongoing NATO-led peacekeeping missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and reaffirmed the need for SFOR and KFOR to continue their missions within current troop