Statement of the Contact Group

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Country/entity: Kosovo
Serbia
Yugoslavia (former)
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Statement of the Contact Group
Date: 29 Apr 1998
Agreement status: Unilateral document
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Balkan Conflicts (1991 - 1995) (1998 - 2001)
Former Yugoslavia

The disintegration of former Yugoslavia post cold war saw conflicts which became mediated and produced peace agreements in Slovenia (where the brief independence conflict was mediated by the EC Troika in 1991), Croatia (between Croatian and Serb populations 1991-1995), in Bosnia (between Croatian, Serb and Bosniak populations 1992-1995), in Macedonia (where mediation played a key pre-emptive role in preventing large scale conflict in 2001), in Kosovo (between Kosovar Albanians and Serbian population and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), but also between FRY and NATO, 1998-1999), and a conflict in the Presevo Valley (between Albanians in South Serbia and FRY, 2000-2001). The continued fall-out of the disintegration of former Yugoslavia also saw mediated agreement and ultimate dissolution of the Union between Serbia and Montenegro.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

In 1991, after nationalist parties won the first multi-party elections in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a violent process of disintegration commenced. With its mixed population, Bosnia-Herzegovina became the centre of the following civil war that began in 1992 between the newly formed army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (mostly Muslim Bosniacs), and the parastatal forces of self-declared Bosnian Croat (Herzeg-Bosnia) and Bosnian Serb (Republika Srpska) entities within Bosnia-Herzegovina, supported by Croatia and Serbia, with various, often short-lived, coalitions. The General Framework Agreement (Dayton Peace Agreement), signed in 1995, split the country into two ethno-federal entities, the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska, and included continued peacekeeping and institutional administration by international actors.

Kosovo

The conflict between Serbs and Kosovar Albanians has a long history and always involved territorial disputes as well as ethno-political, cultural and linguistic factors. The most recent phase of the conflict began in November 1997 when the Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA or UCK) began their campaign for the independence of Kosovo from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY – then Serbia and Montenegro). The subsequent war lasted until the NATO intervention, which undertook bombing campaigns of Belgrade and other places in Serbia during spring 1999. The main agreements solving the conflict were internationally driven and, finally, a UNSC resolution imposed a post-conflict arrangement in the wake of what was essentially a NATO military victory. In February 2008, Kosovo’s parliament declared independence, but independence is still internationally disputed.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Kosovo process
Parties: The Contact Group was comprised of France, Italy, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and United States.
Third parties: -
Description: This statement by the Contact Group outlines principles for a framework of dialogue and stabilisation between Belgrade and Kosovo Albanian leadership. These include rejection of terrorism, respect for rights of individuals and ethnic groups, cooperation with the OSCE Gonzalez mission, and inter-communal confidence building measures, including implementing the education agreement.

Agreement document: KV_980429_Contact Group Statement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
Page 1, 6.1
To begin the urgent process of dialogue, the Contact Group recommends, and urges both Belgrade and Kosovo Albanian leadership to adopt, a framework for dialogue and a stabilisation package: The framework should be based on fundamental principles that the parties must accept, such as rejection of violence for achieving political goals, no preconditions, mutual respect, accordance with standards and principles of the OSCE and of the UN Charter, mutually agreed modalities, and protection of all individuals and ethnic groups...
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 1, 3.
The Contact Group...also calls on the countries of the region to confirm the respect for territorial integrity and for the inviolability of internationally recognised borders.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: Page 1, 2.
All members of the Contact Group are firmly opposed to independence for Kosovo and to a continuation of the unacceptable status quo. Immediate steps by the parties to reduce tension and to begin an unconditional dialogue are indispensable, and the only way to reverse the deterioration in the situation and bring about a political solution.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 2, 6.2
The stabilisation package must include, as the minimum:...Concrete inter-communal confidence building measures, including implementation of the education agreement according to the agreed timetable. The Contact Group appreciates and encourages the work of Sant’Egidio Community in this field.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 1, 3.
...The Contact Group calls on political leaders in the FRY and in the countries of the region to exercise maximum restraint, full respect for human rights, to prevent the introduction of arms and of armed groups from outside, and to condemn terrorism...
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: Page 1, 6.1
To begin the urgent process of dialogue, the Contact Group recommends, and urges both Belgrade and Kosovo Albanian leadership to adopt, a framework for dialogue and a stabilisation package: The framework should be based on fundamental principles that the parties must accept, such as rejection of violence for achieving political goals, no preconditions, mutual respect, accordance with standards and principles of the OSCE and of the UN Charter, mutually agreed modalities, and protection of all individuals and ethnic groups...
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: Rights related issues→Protection measures→Protection of civilians
Page 1, 6.1
To begin the urgent process of dialogue, the Contact Group recommends, and urges both Belgrade and Kosovo Albanian leadership to adopt, a framework for dialogue and a stabilisation package: The framework should be based on fundamental principles that the parties must accept, such as rejection of violence for achieving political goals, no preconditions, mutual respect, accordance with standards and principles of the OSCE and of the UN Charter, mutually agreed modalities, and protection of all individuals and ethnic groups...
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, 3.
The Contact Group condemns the increase in violence in recent days in Kosovo, in particular the excessive use of force by the Yugoslav Army, and the proliferation of arms in the territory...
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: Page 1, 3.
...The Contact Group rejects absolutely terrorism as a means of bringing about political change as well as all other violence to suppress political dissent. The Contact Group calls on political leaders in the FRY and in the countries of the region to exercise maximum restraint, full respect for human rights, to prevent the introduction of arms and of armed groups from outside, and to condemn terrorism...

Page 1, 6.2
The stabilisation package must include, as the minimum: Cessation of repression by the Authorities in Belgrade, as specified in UNSCR 1160, and a strong condemnation of terrorism by the Kosovo Albanian leadership...

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, 6.2
The stabilisation package must include, as the minimum:...Reopening of the OSCE missions in the FRY, including Kosovo...

Page 2, 7.
The Contact Group attaches the highest priority to the immediate launching of the Gonzalez
mission, which is essential for substantial progress in the relationship between FRY and the international community. This mission is also meant to reduce tension, restore confidence and improve general prospects for dialogue. The top leadership in Belgrade should therefore immediately invite the Gonzalez mission to start its work. The Contact Group fully supports the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in his efforts to facilitate this mission.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Office of the High Representative
http://www.ohr.int/?ohr_archive_taxonomy=contact-group

Contact Group Statement - Rome, 29 April 1998

1. The Contact Group met in Rome on April 29 to decide on next steps regarding the increasingly dangerous situation in Kosovo, taking into account the report of the OSCE Troika on developments since the Bonn Contact Group Ministerial.

They considered the report an important and balanced contribution to the assessment of the situation.

The Contact Group believes that the current situation is untenable.

The risk of an escalating conflict requires immediate action.

2. All members of the Contact Group are firmly opposed to independence for Kosovo and to a continuation of the unacceptable status quo.

Immediate steps by the parties to reduce tension and to begin an unconditional dialogue are indispensable, and the only way to reverse the

deterioration in the situation and bring about a political solution.

3. The Contact Group condemns the increase in violence in recent days in Kosovo, in particular the excessive use of force by the Yugoslav Army, and the proliferation of arms in the territory.

The Contact Group rejects absolutely terrorism as a means of bringing about political change as well

as all other violence to suppress political dissent.

The Contact Group calls on political leaders in the FRY and in the countries of the region to exercise maximum restraint, full respect for human rights, to prevent the introduction of arms and of armed groups from outside, and to condemn terrorism.

It also calls on the countries of the region to confirm the respect for territorial integrity and for the inviolability of internationally recognised borders.

4. The Contact Group is not seeking to impose any particular outcome for the resolution of the differences between Belgrade and Kosovo Albanian leadership.

It is for the parties themselves to determine a solution to the political status of Kosovo through negotiations.

The Contact Group notes that representatives of Belgrade and Pristina have recently stated their general willingness to open unconditional dialogue.

But the two sides have yet to agree with full authority on modalities for talks, particularly on the issue of international participation.

5. The Contact Group regards an appropriate international involvement as an essential factor to establish confidence between the parties and to facilitate talks.

6. To begin the urgent process of dialogue, the Contact Group recommends, and urges both Belgrade and Kosovo Albanian leadership to adopt, a framework for dialogue and a stabilisation package:

1. The framework should be based on fundamental principles that the parties must accept, such as rejection of violence for achieving political goals, no preconditions, mutual respect, accordance with standards and principles of the OSCE and of the UN Charter, mutually agreed modalities, and protection of all individuals and ethnic groups.

There should be mutual assurances, which the Contact Group itself will support, that the parties

will not abandon nor seek to undermine an agreement once it is reached.

The framework for dialogue must be formally endorsed by the top leadership in Belgrade and the leadership of the Kosovo Albanians.

The respective leaders must take political responsibility for initiating good-faith talks.

The framework must provide for international involvement in facilitating substantive negotiations.

2. The stabilisation package must include, as the minimum:

Cessation of repression by the Authorities in Belgrade, as specified in UNSCR 1160,

and a strong condemnation of terrorism by the Kosovo Albanian leadership.

Reopening of the OSCE missions in the FRY, including Kosovo.

Concrete inter-communal confidence building measures, including implementation of the education agreement according to the agreed timetable.

The Contact Group appreciates and encourages the work of Sant’Egidio Community in this field.

7. The Contact Group attaches the highest priority to the immediate launching of the Gonzalez mission, which is essential for substantial progress in the relationship between FRY and the international community.

This mission is also meant to reduce tension, restore confidence and improve general prospects for dialogue.

The top leadership in Belgrade should therefore immediately invite the Gonzalez mission to start its work.

The Contact Group fully supports the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in his efforts to facilitate this mission.

8. If the leadership in Belgrade agrees to the framework for dialogue, the stabilisation measures listed in para.6 are implemented, the Gonzalez mission is launched, and substantive talks begin, the Contact Group will promote a clear and achievable path towards Belgrade’s full integration in the international community, including participation in the OSCE.

We want the FRY to reap the benefits of membership in international financial and political institutions.

9. Crucial requirements set out in the Contact Group’s statements of 9 and 25 March have not yet been met.

We have therefore decided to take action to put into effect a freeze on the funds held abroad by the FRY and Serbian Governments.

If Belgrade takes the steps in paragraph six to

bring about negotiations, we will immediately reverse this decision.

We have also decided that if dialogue is blocked because of Belgrade’s non-compliance we will, by the 9th of May, take action to stop new investment in Serbia.

The Russian Federation does not associate itself with

these measures.

10. If unresolved, the situation in Kosovo threatens to spill over to other parts of the region.

The Contact Group attaches high priority to supporting the security interests of the neighbouring States and to ensuring security of borders.

It is of particular importance that developments in Kosovo should not disrupt progress in implementing the Dayton/Paris peace agreement in Bosnia, to which the Government in Belgrade is committed.

The Contact Group will contribute to the strict implementation of Res.

1160, working also with the UN and other relevant international fora.

11. The next meeting of the Contact Group will take place in Paris in May.

Office of the High Representative