Statement / by the President of the Security Council

Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 4298th meeting, 16 Mar. 2001, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "Security Council resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (1998), 1239 (1999) and 1244 (1999) - Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (S/2001/218)"]

Welcomes the establishment of a working group under the authority of the Special Representative aimed at developing a legal framework for provisional institutions for democratic and autonomous self-government in Kosovo and stresses the need for all ethnic groups to be represented in the work of this group. Calls on all parties to support the efforts of the UN Mission in Kosovo to build a stable multi-ethnic democratic society in Kosovo and to ensure suitable conditions for Kosovo-wide elections. KOS
Welcomes the establishment of a working group under the authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General aimed at developing a legal framework for provisional institutions for democratic and autonomous self-government in Kosovo and stresses the need for all ethnic groups to be represented in the work of this group; calls on all parties to support the efforts of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to build a stable multi-ethnic democratic society in Kosovo and to ensure suitable conditions for Kosovo-wide elections; welcomes close contact between the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and UNMIK and KFOR; calls for an end to all acts of violence in Kosovo, in particular those which are ethnically motivated and urges all political leaders in Kosovo to condemn these acts and to increase their efforts to create inter-ethnic tolerance; remains concerned about the security situation in certain municipalities in Southern Serbia as a result of the violent actions of ethnic Albanian armed groups; welcomes the ceasefire agreements signed on 12 Mar. 2001 and calls for strict compliance with their provisions; welcomes the decision taken by NATO to authorize the commander of KFOR to allow the controlled return of forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Ground Safety Zone.

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