Mr. President,

Let me express my delegation's appreciation to you for convening this important meeting. We cannot fail to observe that the procedural problem we had to face this morning had to do with the uneasiness – indeed reluctance on the part of many members of the international community to deal with the regime in Belgrade. We trust this procedural decision we took this morning has settled this issue once and for all. We hope, also, that the procedural question would not detract us from discussing the substantive aspects of the issue before us today.

2. We are grateful for the very useful briefing by Mr. Carl Bildt, Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Balkans. We would also like to welcome to the Council Mr. Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and thank him for his statement, which has certainly contributed in enriching our discussion.

3. My delegation is aware of the fact that discussions on this issue have not been limited to this Council alone, but have also taken place in various other fora, in particular the European Union, as Mr. Solana has just outlined. We, however, believe that the Council has an important role to play given its responsibility under the United Nations Charter. Indeed, as Mr. Bildt has stressed many a time continued international consensus and support are crucial to the overall efforts to promote peace in the Balkans.

4. At the session this Council had with Mr. Bildt last February, my delegation had emphasised four core areas that are vital to the success of the international efforts to achieve self-sustaining peace and stability, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo. Those areas relate to: first, the return of refugees and displaced persons; second, the reconciliation process and the important role the ICTY can play to contribute to the process; third, the need for unstinted international support to and active engagement in the current peace process; and last but not least, the role of the leadership of countries in the region. We had paid particular attention to what Mr. Bildt had said on these areas as we believe progress on these issues will have a positive impact on the peace process and the overall stabilisation of the Balkan region.

5. In addition to these core areas, the success of the international involvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo must be based on a long-term and comprehensive approach encompassing many other aspects of the problem. We have taken careful note of Mr. Bildt's analysis and assessment, as well as the proposed framework for a comprehensive peace, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, and the Balkan region as a whole. We are also gratified to hear from Mr. Solana the European Union’s perspective and priorities relating to these critical issues.

6. Clearly, strengthening of democratic institutions as well as economic and social rehabilitation are crucial factors for self-sustaining peace in all post-conflict situations. This is where the international community's efforts must be matched with strong commitment and constructive attitude of the local leaders.

7. At the same time, good neighbourly relations, close cooperation and integration between and among all the Balkan countries through appropriate regional framework and structures are also important ingredients for the consolidation of peace and sustainable development. The early resolution of the issue of succession of the countries of the former Yugoslavia will certainly contribute to the attainment of this goal. We share the views expressed by Ambassador Holbrooke of the United States on the issue of the status of the FRY in the context of the United Nations on which we predicated our position during the procedural vote this morning.

8. Any meaningful discussion of the future of the Balkans cannot but address the issue of the Belgrade regime and how to deal with it. Indeed, the procedural problem faced by the Council at the beginning of this meeting is symptomatic of this problem and has sharply brought into focus the uneasiness, indeed, reluctance, on the larger part of the international community to deal with the regime in Belgrade and its representatives. This conundrum on how to deal with the FRY cannot be resolved for as long as that government continues to be led by people who have been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal. We entirely agree with Mr. Jacques Klein when he addressed the Council last June that, "the Milosevic regime in Serbia remains the fundamental obstacle to improve regional peace and stability and a better life not only for Serbs but for all people there". We also share the views expressed by Mr. Bildt who also directly addressed this issue this morning. The return of the FRY to mainstream regional and international life will clearly be facilitated by the trial of these indictees and the proper admission of the FRY into the United Nations and the settlement of the outstanding issue of successor states to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In this regard my delegation commends the position taken by Ms. Carla del Ponte, the Special Prosecutor of the ICTY in opposing any move towards an accommodation with Mr. Milosevic with respect to his indictment by the Tribunal. Such a "deal" will make a mockery of the entire international tribunal process and would lead to a travesty of justice for those on trial and those already sentenced by the Court. Only the meting out of justice to those indicted by the Tribunal and those that will be indicted in the future representing the forces of extremism and disintegration that Mr. Bildt had so eloquently talked about would strengthen the forces of tolerance and integration around whom the search for self-sustaining stability in the region as a whole will revolve. These are the forces that should be embraced and strongly supported by the international community and this Council – not the negative forces of obstructionism.

Thank you.

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