Text of NATO's Yugoslavia Statement
A statement by NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana on Tuesday
ordering airstrikes against Yugoslavia:
``Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I have just directed the
Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Clark, to initiate the air
operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. I have taken this
decision after extensive consultations in recent days with all the
allies, and after it became clear that the final diplomatic efforts
of Ambassador Holbrooke in Belgrade has not met with success. All
efforts to achieve a negotiated political solution to the Kosovo
crisis have failed, and no alternative is open but to take military
action.
We are taking action following the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia government's refusal of international community demands:
the acceptance of the interim political settlement, which has been
negotiated at Rambouillet; full observance of limits on the Serb
Army and the special police forces, agreed on 25 October; an end to
the excessive and disproportionate use of force in Kosovo.
As we warned on the 30th of January, failure to meet these
demands would lead NATO to take whatever measures were necessary to
avert a humanitarian catastrophe. NATO has fully supported all
relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, the efforts of the
OSCE, and those of the Contact Group. We deeply regret that these
efforts did not succeed, due entirely to the intransigence of the
FRY government.
This military action is intended to support the political aims
of the international community.
It will be directed towards disrupting the violent attacks being
committed by the Serb army and the special police forces, and
weakening their ability to cause further humanitarian catastrophes.
We wish thereby to support international efforts to secure Yugoslav
agreement to an interim political settlement.
As we have stated, a viable political settlement must be
guaranteed by an international military presence. It remains open
to the Yugoslav government (chief) to show at any time that he's
ready to meet the demands of the international community. I hope
very much he will have the wisdom to do so.
At the same time, we are appealing to the Kosovar Albanians to
remain firmly committed to the road to peace which they have chosen
in Paris. We urge in particular Kosovar armed elements to refrain
from provocative military action.
Let me be very clear. NATO is not waging war against Yugoslavia.
We have no quarrel with the people of Yugoslavia, a people who for
too long have been isolated in Europe because of the policies of
their government. Our objective is to prevent more human suffering,
more repression, more violence against the civilian population of
Kosovo.
We must also act to prevent instability spreading in the region.
Let me stress that NATO is united behind this course of action. We
must halt the violence and bring an end to the humanitarian
catastrophe now unfolding in Kosovo.
We know, and we know very well, the risk of action, but we have
all agreed that inaction brings even greater dangers. We will do
whatever is necessary to bring stability in the region. We must
stop an authoritarian regime from repressing its people in Europe
at the end of the 20th century. We have a moral duty to do so. The
responsibility is on our shoulders and we will fulfill it. (AP)