Concurrent Resolution on Kosovo

The actions of the Serbian special police, who take their orders from Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, in indiscriminately attacking ethnic Albanian residents, including women and children, in Kosovo las tweek are an abomination. They remind us that it was Milosevic's desire for a Greater Serbia that led to the countless innocent victims in the war in Bosnia. If he is allowed to go unchecked in Kosovo, Milosevic will plunge the Balkans into war again. That can not be allowed.

The Contact Group, consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has been following events in Kosovo closely for some time. On September 24, 1997 the Contact Group expressed its deep concern over tensions in Kosovo and called on the authorities in Belgrade and the leadership of the Kosovar Albanian community to join in a peaceful dialogue. I would also note that in a Joint Statement dated October 1, 1997, the United States and the European Union Presidency strongly condemned the use of force against peaceful demonstrators in Kosovo and called on the international community to join in the condemnation.

The Contact Group repeated its call for peaceful dialogue on January 8, 1998, and on February 25, 1998, but it fell on deaf ears.

On March 8, 1998, the Contact Group condemned the excessive use of force by the Serbian police that resulted in at least 80 fatalities and condemned the repression of non-violent expression of political views. The Contact Group noted that it was not endorsing terrorism and condemned terrorist actions by any group. Additionally, it called upon Belgrade to invite independent forensic experts to investigate the very serious allegations of extrajudicial killings. The Contact Group recommended a number of actions too numerous to detail here and demanded that Milosevic must:

• Withdraw the special police units and cease action by the security forces affecting the civilian population.

• Allow access to Kosovo for the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations as well as by representatives of the Contact Group and other Embassies.

• Commit himself publicly to begin a process of dialogue, ... with the leadership of the Kosovar Albanian community.

• Cooperate in a constructive manner with the Contact Group in the implementation of the actions it recommended which require action by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia government.

The Concurrent Resolution, entitled Calling for an end to the violent repression of the people of Kosovo, calls for the international community to respond affirmatively to the call of the Contact Group for the imposition of broad-based sanctions against the Government of Serbia if it fails to prevent atrocities by the police and paramilitary groups or does not otherwise comply immediately with the terms set forth by the Contact Group.

Mr. President, Senator Jack Reed and I visited Belgrade in January 1997 and were impressed by the massive demonstrations in favor of the opposition "Together" movement. The several opposition parties and the students found their common opposition to Milosevic to be a rallying force. I would note that the United States - European Union Joint Statement of October 1, 1997 that I referred to previously, went on to deplore specific actions by Belgrade in removing Zoran Djindjic as the mayor of Belgrade, replacing the editor of Studio B television and packing the station's managing board. It held Milosevic accountable for attempting to reassert political control of the media in Serbia. That is the pattern: take over the media, commit atrocities, arrange for television to only show violence against Serb policemen, and then blame the whole situation on someone else.

Mr. President, I am pleased that the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal began its investigation last Tuesday of the recent events in Kosovo. I am also pleased that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced last Friday that the United States was making a contribution of $1.075 million to support the Tribunal's effort in Kosovo.

Mr. President, a reading of the Concurrent Resolution will reveal that there are numerous references to Slobodan Milosevic. That is no accident and we need to send a personal message to him. I urge my colleagues to vote for this Resolution.