[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[October 26, 2000]
[Pages 2330-2331]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Into the 
Stability Pact
October 26, 2000

    I applaud today's decision by the members of the Stability Pact to 
welcome the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a new member. Last month 
the people of Yugoslavia spoke clearly in support of democratic change. 
The response today from the international community is just

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as clear. We will stand with the new democratic government as it pursues 
economic and political reform, meets its international obligations, and 
works with neighboring countries to promote lasting stability throughout 
the region.
    We helped launch the Stability Pact last year with a common 
understanding that an undivided, democratic, and peaceful Europe will be 
a reality only when the countries of southeast Europe are integrated 
with the rest of the continent. To achieve this goal, the governments of 
the region are pressing ahead with reforms; the international community 
is supporting the region's economic development and integration; and the 
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia can now play its own indispensable role 
in that effort.
    At previous Stability Pact conferences, we invited participation by 
the political opposition in Serbia and by the democratic government in 
the Republic of Montenegro, both of which had the courage to stand up to 
the violence and corruption of the Milosevic regime. But we always kept open a chair for the 
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Now the dramatic changes in Belgrade 
allow the chair for Yugoslavia to be filled. This is a major step 
towards realizing our shared vision of a region committed to peace, to 
healing the wounds of war, and to taking its place in a peaceful, 
undivided, and democratic Europe.