STATEMENT REGARDING THE INTENSIFICATION OF THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO
ANTIWAR CAMPAIGN CROATIA, Zagreb, 18 March 1998

/* Written  5:25 AM  Mar 19, 1998 by ARK_ZG@ZAMIR-ZG.ZTN.APC.ORG in igc:yugo.antiwar */
/* ---------- "Statement on Kosova" ---------- */
ANTIWAR CAMPAIGN CROATIA
Network office
Gajeva 55/1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Tel. ++385 1 431 374, fax 432 456

Zagreb, 18 March 1998

STATEMENT REGARDING THE INTENSIFICATION OF THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO

ADDRESSED TO THE CROATIAN PUBLIC, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC
OF CROATIA, THE CROATIAN PARLIAMENT AND THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE REPUBLIC CROATIA

The network office of the Antiwar Campaign Croatia (ARK) is seeking to mobilise members
of the ARK network, civil organisations, political parties, the Croatian parliament and other
Croatian and international actors, to contribute to finding a solution to the conflict in
Kosovo - a conflict which threatens to escalate and cause population displacement and
long-term instability throughout the region. We consider it to be our right and our duty to
act, since we have experienced war ourselves and our everyday lives are still affected by
its devastating consequences. The ARK network office believes that it is essential that the
problem in Kosovo is internationalised, and invites everyone to contribute to resolving the
crisis.
     The conflict in Kosovo dates back to the beginning of this century, and has escalated
steadily since 1981. The situation has deteriorated so badly over the last 17 years that the
lives of many thousands of people are now in danger. The regular use of force and
widespread human rights violations by the police in Kosovo during the 1980s lowered the
sensitivity of the Yugoslav public to violence. Force came to be widely seen as a legitimate
means of dealing with civilian disputes. The violent repression seen in Kosovo during this
period provided a form of preparation for the wars which were later conducted in the post-
Yugoslav states in the 1990s.
     The present situation in Kosovo is not simply an internal problem for a neighbouring
state, but represents a threat to regional stability that concerns our country and all its
citizens. For this reason, we urge Croatia to react decisively and seek to internationalise
the Kosovo problem.
     We propose that the Croatian parliament debates the situation in Kosovo, and passes
a resolution in which it:

(1) requests the immediate cessation of violence by the police forces of FR Yugoslavia
and the armed representatives of the Albanians in Kosovo;

(2) expresses concern about, and condemns, the killing of civilians;

(3) suggests that the Contact Group appoint a representative who will mediate between
the two sides;

(4) suggests that the international community establishes some form of transitional
authority in Kosovo (perhaps along the lines of UNTAES), on the grounds that the present
situation there is no longer the internal problem of a sovereign state, but has become a
threat to wider security in the Balkans and Europe.
As such, it can only be resolved if international institutions provide immediate and decisive
mediation with support from local and international NGOs;

(5) emphasises that Croatia will respect the obligations arising from the international
conventions it has entered into, and accept refugees from Kosovo -  whose number will
inevitably increase if the present situation continues to deteriorate;

(6) and appoints an official Croatian delegation to present the resolution's proposals to the
government ofthe FR Yugoslavia and its people.

We also propose that international institutions take every measure in support of the
following priorities:

(1) to secure the immediate cessation of violence - a prerequisite for peaceful
negotiations;

(2) to have the Contact Group appoint a representative with a mandate to mediate
between the conflicting parties;

(3) and to ensure a sustained cessation of violence by establishing an international
transitional administration for Kosovo, perhaps along the lines of UNTAES. This is the only
way to create the space needed to allow a long- term solution that is acceptable to all
sides.

TO OUR FRIENDS IN KOSOVO, SERBIA AND MACEDONIA

We wish to express our respect for the Albanian population in Kosovo who have been
committed to non-violent civil resistance for so long. Their commitment is particularly
impressive given that, in the present situation, the violent option seems a more effective
way of attracting the international attention needed to find a long-term solution to the
conflict. With all due respect for everyone's right to make their own choice, we want to
support all those who are still working for a non-violent solution - especially those NGOs
which have maintained a dignified presence over the past seven years despite severe
violations of their human rights.
     Today, despite the bloodshed, we want to emphasise that non-violence still makes
sense. During the wars in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, we learned that advocating
and practising the values of tolerance, solidarity, respect for the human rights and dignity
of every person, regardless of their ethnic origin or religious convictions, is central to a
worthwhile human existence. Because war undermines our entire values system, it is
especially important for the people stricken by conflict to maintain their self-esteem and
dignity and strive to protect the human rights of all. The war in Bosnia-Herzegovina
showed that a solution to this kind of conflict can only be found around the negotiating
table. Surely it is not necessary to, once again, kill hundreds of thousands of people before
we reach a political solution acceptable to all the Albanians and Serbs living in Kosovo?

TO CIVIL SOCIETY, POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE CROATIAN PUBLIC

The ARK network office will continue to promote public debate about the possibilities for
individuals and civil and political groups in Croatia to contribute to the peace process in
Kosovo. We will work to internationalise the problem and support civil organisations in the
region. We will encourage non-violent civil resistance to continue and will stay in regular
contact with our friends in Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia and Albania. We intend to arrange
regular visits by peace activists to Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia, so that they can share
their experience of the wars in Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina and support the work of
groups in Kosovo that are trying to promote dialogue. We will inform the public about these
peace visits and all other future activities of the ARK network office through our regular
press conferences.

For ARK,

Vesna Terselic
Network Coordinator