[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 51 (Monday, December 21, 1998)]
[Pages 2502-2503]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
United States-European Union Joint Statement on Cooperation in the 
Western Balkans

December 18, 1998

    Political, civil, and economic instability in some areas of the 
Western Balkans threatens peace and prosperity in all southeastern 
Europe and poses serious challenges across Europe and beyond. During the 
past six months, we have achieved notable successes and are agreed on 
further cooperative steps in the Western Balkans.
    Our envoys in Kosovo, Ambassadors Chris Hill and Wolfgang Petritsch, 
are working as a team to conclude successfully negotiations on an 
interim political settlement for Kosovo. In Kosovo, the U.S. and EU are 
collaborating to ensure implementation of the October 16 OSCE-FRY 
Agreement, notably in the OSCE's Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM). We 
are extremely concerned that recent acts of violence in Kosovo could 
spiral out of control, and call on all parties to preserve the cease 
fire and cooperate fully with KVM.
    We remain committed to enhancing quickly confidence-building and to 
supporting civil society in Kosovo. The EU welcomes the U.S. initiative 
to begin quick impact efforts in Kosovo immediately. The U.S. welcomes 
the European Union's intention to play the leadership role in organizing 
the international community's response on reconstruction issues, and 
pledges its full support. The EU intends to organize an expert-level 
meeting in January 1999, following the conclusion of the ongoing damage 
assessment mission. Once a political agreement is in place, further 
concrete steps on assisting reconstruction and on democratization and 
civic development will be taken, including convening a donors' 
conference. We look to the international community to contribute 
substantially towards the speedy implementation of these endeavors. At 
present, humanitarian aid should continue, responding to the most urgent 
needs, in close cooperation between the U.S. and EU and under the 
coordination of UNHCR, which is the lead agency for humanitarian aid as 
well as for the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and 
refugees.
    We expect the Albanian, as well as the Bosnian, authorities to take 
primary responsibility for stabilizing their respective countries and 
leading them towards full democracy and economic development.
    In Albania, we worked together to form the Friends of Albania, which 
the EU co-chairs with the OSCE; we are both making a substantial 
political and material commitment to stabilization, democratization and 
economic reform. We have taken note of the new Government's pledges at 
the Tirana Conference October 30 to move towards those goals. We welcome 
the adoption of the new Constitution, which is a fundamental first step 
in that direction. We strongly urge all political parties to cooperate 
in the democratic process in the interest of all Albanian people.
    We have furthered our cooperation in support of Dayton 
implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in Croatia. The Bosnian 
national elections in September further advanced democracy and pluralism 
in that country. The U.S. and EU continue to provide resources to assist 
Dayton implementation efforts. We call on the authorities in both Bosnia 
and Herzegovina and Croatia to consistently support Dayton 
implementation efforts and contribute to the process of stabilization 
and national reconciliation, including by supporting the return of 
refugees and displaced persons to their previous homes as

[[Page 2503]]

a matter of priority. Job creation, through self-sustaining economic 
development, will help stabilize the political and social situation and 
will enhance the return to a multi-ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina. 
Economic revitalization is essential for sustainable returns, especially 
in minority areas.
    We call on all in the region to support efforts to establish 
security and economic stability. Without this support, resolving 
regional conflicts and advancing democratic, civic, and economic reform 
is only more difficult. We will use our political and economic resources 
to support those who support these efforts and, more generally, to 
advance an agenda of democracy, progress toward self-sustaining free 
market economics, and normal relations with their neighbors. We condemn 
steps taken by the government in Belgrade to suppress independent media 
and political opposition, and express strong support for emerging 
democracy and political pluralism in Montenegro. A Federal Republic of 
Yugoslovia that respects the democratic and human rights of its citizens 
and that upholds its international obligations is essential for regional 
peace and security and its own integration into Europe.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint declaration.