U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Cologne, Germany) June 9, 1999
Excelsior Hotel Cologne, Germany June 9, 1999
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Let me say how very pleased I am to have President Djukanovic here. We had a very good discussion just now. We had an opportunity to speak about the situation in Kosovo and in Yugoslavia. I was very interested to hear about the kinds of things that President Djukanovic is doing in Montenegro. His leadership of Montenegro has really permitted him to lead Montenegro in a democratic direction. It is a shining example of what is possible, and the United States and our allies continue to make clear our support for the kind of work that President Djukanovic is carrying out. We will have a chance to continue our discussions here tomorrow as a part of the G-8 discussions.
PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC: (English Translation) Ladies and gentlemen, today I had the great pleasure to have a meeting with Mrs. Albright, Secretary of State of the United States, and we had an opportunity of discussing the most topical issues relating to Montenegro, Yugoslavia and peace in the region in which we live.
The fact that we have this conversation at a time when peace is being established in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia sufficiently confirms how much attention the United States of America attaches to the policy which is being pursued in Montenegro.
I believe it was extremely important that at a time when peace was passing through such a hard time of ordeal that Montenegro has not only managed to preserve its stability, but also to pursue its reforms and its part of democratization. Understandably, Mrs. Albright and I spoke of the problem of Kosovo and of the efforts that the international community has been making these days in order that peace be restored to that area. I have repeated my support of the efforts that the G-8 has made in order to agree on a draft resolution for Kosovo, which will hopefully be shortly passed by the Security Council, and which will hopefully represent the guarantee of the future of peace in the region. It is also very important for us that we had this contact today. That is, only one day -- that is on the eve of the ministerial conference for Southeastern Europe in Cologne. Also, we believe it is very important that the United States of America and other countries have recognized how important it is that Montenegro participate at this conference for Southeastern Europe, because this is a kind of a link with Yugoslavia prior to the time when Yugoslavia shall complete the conditions for being able to participate in this, and that Montenegro hopefully will be able to now benefit from this conference. Thank you for your attention.
QUESTION: The administration has been openly hoping for, even trying to encourage a change of government in Belgrade. Could you look into the future with us? Do you anticipate that Milosevic will disappear from power? Do you think Kosovo should or will stay in Serbia, will Montenegro stay in Yugoslavia? Is there going to be more splintering of an already badly splintered country?
PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC: (English Translation) I think that the condition of the survival and prosperity of Yugoslavia is its democratization. Montenegro sees its prospects and future only in such a Yugoslavia. Montenegro has very precisely defined national and state interests, and these are building a democratic, open, and multi-ethnic society. These are economic reforms and prosperity. And this is integration -- involvement into developed European integration. Montenegro can do this either by itself or together with Serbia. The fact that we are now part of Yugoslavia proves that we are willing to make an effort to assist Serbia to democratize and to embark upon such an avenue together with us. I hope that in the post-conflict period, Serbia will democratize and that Montenegro will not have to look for another constitutional arrangement or constitutional part for achieving its interests.
QUESTION: What about Kosovo? Do you anticipate that in three or four years we'll have an independent Muslim State of Kosovo?
PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC: (English Translation) I do not think that these are prospects for Kosovo, and in particular not such which will bring stability and progress for Kosovo and Yugoslavia. I think that prospects for stability in the region can only be achieved if there is a substantial autonomy in Kosovo, within Yugoslavia, which will ensure full guarantees of minority and democratization within a Yugoslavia on the whole.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Can I just add to that, that what I found very interesting in our discussion just now at lunch, was the very similar views that we have about the future of Southeast Europe, and the kind of work that we believe is necessary in the stability pact that we are going to be talking about, and the relationship of these various entities within the Balkans to each other -- very similar views.
QUESTION: Madame Secretary, if you could tell me how (inaudible) going to be possible to structure a South [sic] European stabilization plan that will achieve this. And also if you could give some comments on your meeting this morning with the Russian Foreign Minister -- whether you are confident that the damage that has been done to U.S.-Russia relations is now (inaudible) resolved, or what?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Yes, well let me say that one of the things that we have been doing in the last couple of years, is helping Montenegro in a variety of ways to support their multi-ethnic democratic form of government. We have given economic assistance which adds up to about 40 million over the last two years, and there should be 20 million more coming. We have helped in terms of money for privatization, for legal reform, balance of payment assistance, and have given them landing rights. And, generally what we have done is exempt them from the embargo that exists against Serbia. And, I think that through that kind of activity we have shown that those who follow democratic practices and human rights, are respected and helped by the United States and the rest of the international community. On Russia, I had a very good meeting with Foreign Minister Ivanov this morning -- I think almost two hours and we obviously talked about Kosovo, but we also talked about a host of other bilateral issues, and my sense is, very strongly, that the U.S.-Russia relationship is important for both countries, it's in both our countries' national interests. We have very many issues that we talk about together, and we'll continue to do so. Some in the arms control area, areas to do with non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, also discussing regional issues. We spent some time today, talking about our common views that it would be a tragedy if the Kashmir issue spun out of control in any way. It was a very productive and very good discussion.
QUESTION: Do you think the damage has been eased, then?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think that we all know that our relationship is -- both sides know -- that our relationship is too important to be damaged by Milosevic.
QUESTION: (inaudible) troops in the peace-keeping force either (inaudible)?
PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC: (English Translation) I suppose that you know that there has been a great deal of speculation in our domestic public opinion. A couple of months ago, I said that peacekeeping troops, with a mandate of the Security Council, can count on any type of logistical support from Montenegro. The media, controlled by, or supporting, Milosevic's regime have interpreted this as my invitation to NATO troops to occupy Yugoslavia. And I was very precise, and this is something I repeated today. Montenegro is a responsible part of the region -- a responsible entity in the region -- and we want to assist in the implementation of peace in Kosovo. After the Dayton Agreement was reached, these were services that we offered to the forces that were deployed in Bosnia. So, quite naturally, this is the kind of assistance that we are offering to the forces that will be deployed in Kosovo.
QUESTION: Mr. President, on that point, are you sure that you have control of your own ports? Because the Yugoslav army has blocked them, access to (inaudible). And the larger question is, now that -- if peace does come, is the danger of an attempt to overthrow your government as it has, or (inaudible)?
PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC: (English Translation) You certainly know that the regime of Mr. Milosevic has tried to use a part of the Yugoslav army in Montenegro in order that it attempted to block the border crossings in Montenegro. So that is currently the case with the Port of Bar. However, let me recall, the peace plan has been accepted by Belgrade. So I expect that already today or tomorrow, the military technical agreement will be agreed upon and that the army will, already tomorrow, start withdrawing from Kosovo. So it would be all illogical that then the Milosevic regime will revoke the decision imposed on the state of war in the country. And also, that the army will be demobilized, and reduced to peace-time levels. That the army will go back to the barracks and start doing those things that they're supposed to do under the constitution, which means leaving the Port of Bar. I think that this will be a very serious test of Milosevic's real commitment to the restoration of peace in the country. And I think that he should be reminded of this obligation, not only by our domestic public, but also by the international community. As for the stability of our government, as long as Mr. Milosevic is present, is in the political life of Yugoslavia, his pressures against a democratic government in Montenegro will not cease. But I think that we have already proven to be able to build a solid immunity against such pressures from Mr. Milosevic.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Let me also add to that, the subject of Montenegro comes up all the time as I talk to my colleagues in the Alliance, and it is very clear that any escalation in pressure on Montenegro would escalate the situation with NATO.
QUESTION: President Djukanovic, once knowing that there are hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanian refugees who are yet to return home, what is technical military agreement is signed (inaudible) your interpretation of Yugoslavia will have lost the war? And, one other question. Now that President Milosevic has been indicted by the War Crimes Tribunal, what do you think his future will be (inaudible) remain in power?
PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC: (English Translation) I wouldn't speak in these terms, whether Yugoslavia has won or lost. What is certain is that a quarrel some arrogant [sic] policy personified by Mr. Milosevic has lost. I think that Yugoslavia should gain. Yugoslavia will gain because peace will be restored in our country. Because hopefully permanently a source of inter-ethnic conflict will be now eliminated. And, because prospects for the democratization of our country will be opened which is a precondition for the stability of our country, and the stability of the region. And by saying this, I believe I have replied to your second question, too. Namely, I think that Mr. Milosevic is a politician who belongs to the past. Of course, it's immaterial what I think of him. I hope that after all this agony that he has put the Serbian people through, they, too, have such an opinion of Mr. Milosevic. And I hope that in the near future, they will know how to elect democratic leaders for themselves.
QUESTION: We have news coming from the German Ministry of Defense which says that the NATO attacks have been stopped (inaudible).
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I cannot confirm this news. The sequence of events is that if Mr. Milosevic accepts the military-technical agreement there is a ceasefire and verifiable withdrawal. Then there will be a suspension of the bombing. Then the Security Council Resolution will be passed and KFOR will be able to go in. So, I do not confirm that.
Thank you.