24 November 2000

Text: Albright Condemns Attacks in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

(Says attacks threaten "stability of Kosovo and the region")

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine issued a statement November 22 condemning the bombing attack on the residence of the senior Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) representative in Kosovo, Stanimir Vukicevic, as well as apparently unrelated attacks by Albanian insurgents against Serbian police checkpoints.

Following is the text of her statement:
(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
November 22, 2000

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
KOSOVO: ATTACK ON YUGOSLAV REPRESENTATIVE'S RESIDENCE

Early this morning a powerful bomb ripped through the residence of the senior Federal Republic of Yugoslavia representative in Kosovo. The attack resulted in one death and at least four injuries. The senior Federal Republic of Yugoslavia representative, Mr. Vukicevic, is reportedly uninjured. International police were posted in the vicinity for routine security observation and believe they saw the alleged culprits and are following leads. In an apparently unrelated development, we have also received reports of attacks today by Albanian insurgents residing in southern Serbia, adjacent to Kosovo, against Serbian police checkpoints.

The United States strongly condemns these attacks and calls upon all parties to cease these violent confrontations. These attacks are a threat to the stability of Kosovo and the region. Continued violence erodes the moral support Kosovo has traditionally had in the international community.

Over the last months, the people of Yugoslavia and Kosovo have expressed themselves clearly in support of the peaceful development of democracy throughout the region. These acts undermine the will of the people and are contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 1244. We call upon the leaders of Kosovo to denounce this violence. We urge all parties concerned to respond with restraint and to cooperate with UN authorities in Kosovo and with KFOR in working against future acts of violence and in apprehending those responsible.

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