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| JAVIER SOLANA TOURS PRISTINA | |
 June 24, 1999 
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On the very day the Serb parliament voted to end its declaration of war, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana toured Pristina, the provincial capital of Kosovo. The following is the full text of remarks he made to reporters: |
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I am delighted to be in Pristina at last and in a free Kosovo where justice can prevail and all refugees return home. I particularly want to congratulate SACEUR, General Jackson, Ambassador de Mello, all KFOR personnel and also staff of International and Non Governmental Organisations. You have achieved so much in less than two weeks since KFOR forces first entered Kosovo on 11 June. Operations on the ground have already been a tremendous success. NATO's member countries have responded to the challenge to bring peace and stability to Kosovo by deploying already 30,000 troops in a fully integrated and effective peacekeeping force. This reflects NATO's shared determination to uphold the values which our Alliance has successfully defended for 50 years; democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. And more troops will arrive shortly, and not just from NATO countries. Forces from Russia, NATO's other partner nations and others will be integrated into KFOR. Russian and NATO troops work side-by-side in Bosnia. I am sure they will do so again with equal success in Kosovo. Yesterday, I received news from the Russian government that it has approved the agreement on Russian's participation in KFOR. Once the Federation Council in Moscow has agreed to the deployment of Russian forces, I anticipate that they will arrive shortly. Now KFOR's role is to create the secure conditions for the rebuilding of Kosovo; for the re-establishment of law and order; for the safe return of refugees to their homes; for social and economic reconstruction; and for the full investigation of all war crimes and atrocities. Representatives from the UN, OSCE and NGO's have a crucial responsibility here and NATO will do all it can to support them. An important milestone in the process of building peace was the signing early on Monday morning by Hashim Thaci, Commander-in-Chief of UCK of an undertaking to demilitarise and to co-operate fully with NATO forces. I congratulate Mr Thaci, General Jackson and General Reith in Albania who all played essential roles in this achievement. I met with Mr. Thaci just a few moments ago and he assured me of his commitment to demilitarize the UCK. We will remain vigilant that this undertaking is respected. We will also be ensuring that all other armed groups are demilitarised. The only security force that Kosovo needs today is KFOR. KFOR forces are now working hard to end the violence that for many dark months was part of everyday life in Kosovo. They will do their very best to ensure the safety and security of everyone in Kosovo, regardless of their ethnic, religious or cultural background. I repeat that there is no need for anyone to leave Kosovo. KFOR will look after you. Please stay here and give peace a chance. This is the message that I delivered to Serb political and religious leaders when I met them earlier today. At the same time, I call on all Kosovar Albanians and indeed all the other peoples of Kosovo not to allow ethnic hatred or a desire for revenge to capture their hearts. The international community intervened in Kosovo to protect human rights and to give Kosovo a brighter future. I call upon all Kosovar Albanians to live up to these values and to seize this opportunity to help us build here a democratic, multi-ethnic society which will be a model for the region. Peace cannot be built on looking to the past and on revenge. It can only be built on justice, and looking to the future. I have just held a meeting in which NATO and the UN brought together leaders from both the Kosovar Albanian and the Serb communities - together in one room. I urged them to work together for reconciliation. They shook hands. They started a dialogue. It is a sign of hope for the future. NATO forces and international humanitarian organisations will begin the organised return to Kosovo of all refugees who were forced out of their homes. Together they will provide transportation. They will provide food and water. They will establish transit stations en route. And they will ensure the security of all convoys. I know that many refugees have already returned and others are returning as I speak. But I urge those remaining to stay where they are until we can guarantee a safe return. A little patience will have its reward in a safer, organized return home. General Clark, General Jackson, troops of KFOR, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for what you have achieved so far. You are playing a vital part in establishing peace and security in Kosovo and the entire region. From what I have seen and heard here today, it is clear that there is a massive task ahead. Rebuilding Kosovo will take time and a great deal of hard work and commitment. The international community will keep its promise. We will provide the security, the expertise and the resources. But we cannot succeed alone. The peoples of Kosovo must play their part as well. They must give us their active cooperation and demonstrate that they wish to be part of the integrated Europe of tomorrow. Peace is more than the end of violence; more than a cease-fire. It is a culture of democracy and tolerance. That is what we must build together in Kosovo.
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