HIGH COMMISSIONER CONCERNED ABOUT KOSOVO DEVELOPMENTS

HR/98/5
28 January 1998

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson, today expressed her deep concern over the increasingly violent situation in the province of Kosovo, in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. She has been informed by her office in Belgrade that in separate incidents in recent days at least two persons have been killed and several others wounded, including police officers and civilians. The casualties have resulted both from armed attacks attributed to the organization calling itself ?the Liberation Army of Kosova,? and from operations carried out by the Serbian police. The High Commissioner deplores the loss of life and human suffering caused by these incidents.

The High Commissioner urges all parties to refrain from the use of violence and to respect the right to life and personal security of all human beings. She emphasizes that the right to personal security and the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of one?s life are fundamental and inalienable human rights, which are to be respected and secured under all circumstances. All acts which violate these rights are unjustifiable and must be denounced. The High Commissioner calls on the Serbian police in Kosovo to act with restraint and to carry out their duties in strict compliance with national and international human rights standards, particularly in view of the increasingly tense and volatile situation in the region.

The High Commissioner recalls the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly of 12 December 1997 (52/139) which requested the Secretary-General to establish an adequate international monitoring presence in Kosovo. She wishes again to urge the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to approve the establishment of a sub-office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Pristina, which could be helpful to the authorities in promoting respect for human rights.