Press Release (2001) 023 18 Feb. 2001

Statement by the Secretary General I deplore the escalation of the violence in southern Serbia and urge the leadership of both sides to exercise maximum restraint. The problems in the region cannot be solved by violence - they can only be settled through direct negotiations between the parties. Today's events make the urgency of moving ahead with such negotiations all the more clear. I wish to offer my sympathies to the families of the victims of today's violence. The people of the region - of all ethnic groups - have suffered more than enough. To all those involved, I urge you to recognise that escalating the violence will only cause greater grief and suffering for all concerned. It is time to stop fighting, and get on with restoring peace and safety for all the people of the region.

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