RECONCILIATION AND JUSTICE MUST PAVE WAY TO MULTIETHNIC KOSOVO, SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS
***********************************************************
KOSOVO - Official U.S. Government Documents For more information regarding the latest policy statements and other materials related to the Kosovo crisis, visit http://www.usia.gov/regional/eur/balkans/kosovo/
***********************************************************Text: Annan Calls on Kosovo Citizens to Seek Reconciliation
(Says "revenge is not justice")United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the Serbian and Albanian citizens of Kosovo to learn "to live together and not to seek revenge," according to an August 12 UN press release.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Annan said that those attempting to expel Serbs from Kosovo must not be allowed to succeed. "Obviously," he said, "justice is required, but revenge is not justice."
Following is the text of the press release:
(Begin text)
RECONCILIATION AND JUSTICE MUST PAVE WAY TO MULTIETHNIC KOSOVO, SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS
AUGUST 12 -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday that all citizens of Kosovo, whether Serbian or Albanian, must be encouraged to live together and not to seek revenge.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Mr. Annan said means for reconciliation between the parties must be found to bring about a multi-ethnic Kosovo.
Although the situation in the province remained very difficult, Mr. Annan said the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), along with the KFOR international security force, could not allow those attempting to expel Serbs from Kosovo to succeed.
"Obviously, justice is required, but revenge is not justice," Mr. Annan said.
Mr. Annan said he hoped the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) would continue to work with Dr. Bernard Kouchner, who, as the Secretary-General's Special Representative, leads the efforts of UNMIK to restore civil order and build democracy in Kosovo.
Responding to a question from the press about bringing criminals to justice, Mr. Annan said it was necessary to make it understood by all that there was no escape from justice and that the international community would do its best to see the guilty brought to trial.
Impunity should not be an accepted fact, Mr. Annan said, and it was for that reason the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court had been established.
(End text)
senden