Press Release

No: 12/1999
Date: 22 January 1999

Press statement by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Norway, Knut Vollebæk

As you know, last night after intense discussions with Yugoslav leaders, we managed to prevent the expulsion of Ambassador Walker, the Head of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission.

As a result of these discussions, Yugoslav authorities decided to freeze the implementation of their decision to declare Ambassador Walker "persona non grata". This has been confirmed in a letter last night from Foreign Minister Jovanovic to me as Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE.

I am satisfied that we have achieved a solution to this issue, and that ambassador Walker will be able to continue his function as Head of KVM without any restrictions or conditions.

I wish to underline the importance of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission as a stabilizing factor that can make a much-needed contribution to the creation of conditions necessary for a peaceful solution to the Kosovo crisis.

Last night I consulted with my colleagues, both in the OSCE Troika and in the Contact Group.

As you know, there is a Contact Group meeting at Political Directors level in London today. However, as Chairman-in-Office I have requested an urgent meeting of Contact Group Foreign Ministers in order to give renewed impetus to the efforts to reach a political solution. I have been in contact with British Foreign Minister Robin Cook who is the present chairman of the Contact Group and who strongly supports such a meeting.

Both parties in Kosovo must now show the utmost restraint and willingness to compromise and cooperate in order to resolve the crisis.

The International Community, including the OSCE, will make every effort to assist and facilitate in this process.