Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Florence 25 May 2000

Intervention of H.E. Paskal Milo Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania Secretary General, Honourable Colleagues, This meeting and the topic we have agreed to discuss comes at the right moment. Our theme of discussion today is of value for us, peoples and nations of South East Europe, as one of the regions most affected by crisis and conflicts in those last ten years. The NATO Summit in April last year and the whole stream of events after it, have confirmed the admirable efforts aimed at defining the strategy and the objectives of the Alliance in this new millennium. NATO is actually facing new challenges that threaten peace and international security. No doubt those challenges differ from those of the Cold War. It is not only up to NATO to confront them, but to the whole international community. Albania as an active member of the EAPC has always expressed its readiness to join its efforts with those of the Alliance aiming at conflicts prevention or their solution. Our contribution in this respect is tangible. Albania remains committed in its strategic objective that demands full membership into NATO. We feel that we are not alone in our efforts. Albania hails the results of the Vilnius meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the aspirant countries and pledges to increase cooperation with them in our joint efforts. We share a common cause and along with those partners as well as with the Alliance countries we believe in democracy, human rights, market economy and we also attach outmost importance to the preservation and the development of the transatlantic link. It is for these reasons that we are prepared to share the responsibilities that membership in the Alliance brings along. In a few days we will commemorate the anniversary of the successful conclusion of one of the most important and difficult missions of the Alliance after the World War Two. NATO saved almost two million Albanians from genocide, violence, repression and ethnic cleansing. The Alliance gave thus an end to the fourth conflict caused by Milosevic's regime in the last ten years in the territories of former Yugoslavia. The importance of the NATO's intervention last year does not stand on the fact alone that it avoided a terrible humanitarian catastrophe. At the same time NATO prevented the Milosevic's aim to spill over the conflicts in the other countries of the region. May I take this opportunity to once more thank the Alliance on behalf of Albania and its Government, for this decisive intervention it undertook in favour of peace and international security, in the favour of the democratic future of Kosova and the whole South East Europe. One year after the conflict the situation in Kosova has resulted in satisfactory progress. Only the allies of Milosevic, the professional sceptics and those who did not like the liberation of the Albanians of Kosova from Milosevic regime see the situation from a different perspective and deny the progress already made. The present situation in Kosova is now definitely better compared with the period when Serb army, police, secrete services and the paramilitary had the control on it. At least some 90 percent, if we may not say it for the whole people of Kosova, are free. But, in order to further improve the situation and bring it within the desired standards, we must abide by the engagements taken at the end of the conflict: to provide the needed civil police forces considering the requirements for quality, preparedness and origin of them, to strongly support UNMIK and Mr. B. Kouschner, to satisfy the financial obligations and to accelerate the rebuilding process of Kosova. We are not painting a "rosy" situation in Kosova. We are not saying that there are no problems there. I fully concur with Lord Robertson when he says "To expect to create a Switzerland there in less than a year, is simply unrealistic". The departure of part of the Serb and Roma minority from Kosova is regrettable and all the efforts must be made to make sure that they return to theirs homes in Kosova. What we cannot accept are the attempts that aim at comparing the massive violent deportation of hundreds of thousands of Albanians carefully planned and orchestrated by Milosevic, with the departure of groups of Serbs and Roma by fear of the Albanians revenge. We have condemned and we condemn the violent actions of the extreme Albanian nationalists and of all the other extremists and we will continue to work together with all of you in order to guarantee a democratic and multiethnic future for Kosova. The main factor against the stabilisation in Kosova and against peace and security in the region is the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. Without his dismissal from the political life in Belgrade, more crisis and conflicts will continue to threaten not only Kosova, but even Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. That is why it would be a mistake to remove or reduce now or in the near future the KFOR troops in Kosova. Unfortunately, there is a high price to pay for maintaining peace in the Balkans, but the consequences of the withdrawal of NATO troops from Kosova and from the region, would cost even more. Albania hails the recent decision of the US Senate that voted in favour of the continued US presence in KFOR. Ladies and Gentlemen, Albania is a factor for peace and stability in the region. It sees its future in its integration into the EU and the Euroatlantic structures, in opening the borders and not in their closure. However, I cannot fail to mention that there are others who would like to close Albanians within their own borders allegedly "scared" by the so-called "Albanian expansionism and the perspective of the Albanisation of the region". From this distinguished forum I wish to address to all those expressing fear and concern for the fabricated phantom of "Great Albania", calling them to calm down and feel confident. Our region has never been and it will never be threatened from Albania and the Albanians. Wars and conflicts in the Balkans have been caused by others. Secretary General, Distinguished Colleagues, Peace and security in the region are threatened not only by aggressive and nationalistic policies, but even by economic backwardness, unsatisfactory development of democracy and immature civic society. NATO cannot remain indifferent to this. The Stability Pact that is about to celebrate its first birthday, offers great opportunities for cooperation and co-ordination with all the major factors of international community. While well aware of the facts that it is a long process, we all expect to see the first results generated by the Pact. The optimism expressed during conferences is not enough for building confidence on a safe future for South East Europe. Concrete steps must be undertaken by all, including those that promised 2.4 billion euros last March in Brussels. If everything would be considered with scepticism, if there would be an exhausting hesitation and wait for perfectionism before making the first step, we will obtain only promises, but never a start. In that case, we all will be losers. Finally, Mr. Secretary General, we believe that NATO has a very important role to play in this respect. Indeed, it cannot be a substitute of the Pact itself, but neither can the Pact be a substitute for the important role NATO can and will play in the region. Thank You.