UNMIK/PR/17

Press Release

24 July 1999

Bernard Kouchner, Special Representative of Secretary General, Condemns Murder of Defenseless Farmers. Remarks Made After the Joint Implementation Commission Meeting on the Demilitarization of the UCK at KFOR Headquarters

PRISTINA -- I am horrified by the murders last night. Not only because 14 people were massacred - 14 defenseless farmers peacefully harvesting hay - but because we had been making real progress in recent days - significant steps towards stability and democratic self-government in Kosovo.

The world knows what happened here in Kosovo in the past months and years. And the world intervened in a powerful and unprecedented way - to end the suffering and injustice and killing. But the world did not intervene to make Kosovo safe for revenge and intolerance, and the world must condemn these cowardly killings and those responsible for them.

In the name of the United Nations Secretary General and the international community in Kosovo, I expect an urgent and relentless investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay. I take very seriously General Çeku’s promise to assist personally in this investigation.

All democrats of the world must stand up and reject this kind of horrible massacre. I personally, in the name of Kofi Annan, will closely follow this investigation.