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NATO Foreign Ministers on 12th April assessed the situation in
Kosovo and the progress made in carrying out Operation Allied Force.
All NATO countries expressed their outrage at the ethnic cleansing
by the Yugoslav security forces in Kosovo and the forced expulsion
of a large part of its population and expressed a determination
to put a stop to these barbaric practices.
Air operations will continue as long as necessary until President
Milosevic meets NATO's objectives of :
- a verifiable stop to all military action and the immediate ending
of violence and repression;
- the withdrawal from Kosovo of the Yugoslav military, police
and paramilitary forces;
- the stationing in Kosovo of an international military presence;
- the unconditional and safe return of all refugees and displaced
persons and unhindered access to them by humanitarian aid organisations;
- credible assurance of Milosevic's willingness to work on the
basis of the Rambouillet Accords towards a political solution
for Kosovo.
Foreign Ministers also condemned the apalling use of refugees by
Belgrade as a means of destabilising other countries in the region.
They also stated that they have mobilised their military resources
to assist the international humanitarian relief operations in the
region.
Additional information:
- Audio file
of the Press Conference by US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright
after the Extraordinary Meeting of the North Atlantic Council
at Foreign Ministers Level (.MP3/5.38MB)
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