German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer's Press Conference
Pristina, 6 April 2001.

Good Evening.  I had today intensive and constructive talks and exchanges of views with representatives of UNMIK, KFOR, the Kosovar Albanian Political Parties, the Kosovo Serb population group, and members of the Kosovo Protection Corps.  This is not the first time that I am here in Kosovo and a lot of progress has been made, but on the other side, there are a lot of serious problems we have discussed.  We talked about violent extremists, especially also the situation in Macedonia.  Before, I was in Tirana and had talks with Albanian leaders there, with the President, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and everybody agreed that in the European Union, in Albania and everywhere, that no problem here in the region can be solved by the use of force or by extremism or nationalism.  The whole region must be developed step by step on the long road to Europe to bring peace and stability into this region, a sustainable peace and stability.  And this means that the rules of democracy, peace and freedom are of the utmost importance, and therefore, we think the security situation here will be improved, especially the situation of minorities and their security situations.

Looking forward now to elections, I was told there is the perspective that in late autumn there should be elections.  We think it is very important that all ethnic groups take part in these elections.  We appreciate very much there has now started a dialogue on the Presevo Valley between Albanians and representatives of state authority there.  We hope that the violence in Macedonia will come to an end definitely because we think that the territorial integrity of Macedonia is very important for peace and stability and security in the whole region. 

I had a lot of fruitful talks today and I think it is also in the responsibility of the leaders of the Kosovar Albanian parties that they make it quite clear that the time for the use of force has definitely gone.  Two years now after this terrible war the situation has completely changed.  Everywhere in the region we have democratically elected governments.  It is very important that there was a peaceful revolution in Belgrade.  Everybody in the region now is ready to go on the road to Europe together with their neighbors.  We think this is also the responsibility of the leaders of the Kosovar parties to make quite clear to the extremists that their extremism and nationalism has no future in a common Europe.   Thank You.

Q: Why are you putting so much pressure on the Kosovar Albanian leadership about the problems in Macedonia when you know that there is a government and there are Albanian political parties working there?

JF:  Everybody is responsible, everybody here in the region, and responsible leaders have the responsibility to act in the right way.  This is not my first trip in the region, it was not to Prishtina.  I was in Skopje before and this was the message we conveyed to everybody, that the European future, and the Albanian people have a European future, that the European future cannot be based on the use of force and extremism, nationalism or terrorism.  These are European principles and these principles are equal for all of us inside the European Union or outside the European Union.  I think the whole region today has a tremendous chance to develop peacefully toward Europe.  We are a federal republic of Germany together with our allies.  We are truly committed to this development.  We didn't fight against the Greater Serbia to support another greater "whatever nationalism."  We fought for the principles of human rights and for European principles and for the European perspective of this region because this is part of Europe.  But on the other side, this means that regionally there is a hefty responsibility to make quite clear which their decision is - this means that Europe must be based on human rights, the security of minorities and guaranteed rights of minorities and based on peace and not with the use of force and violence.

Q: Could you convey the message to the Macedonian leaders to start the talks with the Albanians?

JF:  We are in full support of the initiatives of Javier Solana and we will have now on Monday a good opportunity to discuss these issues because there will be the signature for the stability and association agreement between the European Union and Macedonia.  I think Solana made very good proposals and we should together approach along these lines.  But by the way, I don't have to convey any message from Prishtina,.  I conveyed the message personally in Skopje to the leaders.

Q: Do you think the Albanian political leaders have been involved in the problems in Macedonia?

JF:  I think responsible policy must be based on peace, on human rights, on no use of force, on the acceptance of the territorial integrity of Macedonia, on the acceptance of the rights of minorities, not only here but everywhere in Europe and on a common effort for economic and social development.  I think this is the real big benefit for the region, peace and economic development, and this means to go the road to Europe.

Q: Do you support the constitutional changes in Macedonia?

I support the proposals of Javier Solana and I think the situation of the Albanian minority should be improved based on a legal way, a constitutional way, together with the majority and in Macedonia, which is based on its territorial integrity, on democracy.  We strongly condemn extremism and the use of force against Macedonia.  Thank you.