PRESS RELEASE (1999)56 9 April 1999



STATEMENT BY NATO SECRETARY GENERAL SOLANA ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC
COUNCIL ON THE 19+1 MEETING WITH THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA1

Today, the North Atlantic Council met with Foreign Minister Aleksandar
Dimitrov and Defence Minister Nikola Kljusev of the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia . On this occasion, NATO Allies reiterated their
gratitude for the generous support the country has provided to the efforts
of the international community to bring peace to Kosovo and in particular
to address the grave humanitarian crisis brought on by the actions of FRY
forces in Kosovo. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 has played,
and continues to play, a vital role in this regard.


The Alliance is, of course, aware of the immense hardship that the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 is undergoing because of the massive influx
of refugees into its territory. In response to this latest crisis, the
Alliance's military forces have been engaged in refugee relief in
co-operation with the relevant humanitarian organisations, in particular
the UNHCR, which is the lead international agency in this field. Our forces
have been providing and transporting supplies, providing logistical
support, assisting in setting up refugee centres and in building
infrastructure for these centres. At its meeting of 3rd April, Council
authorised the Commander of the NATO forces in the country, General Sir
Michael Jackson, to take responsibility for co-ordinating NATO's
humanitarian efforts in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1, making
use of all available NATO forces in the area. The NATO Commanders will
continue to initiate action at every opportunity to assist the
international humanitarian effort, with the intention of handing over such
initiatives to the UNHCR or other agencies when appropriate. In addition,
NATO member States are actively engaged in humanitarian relief efforts by
providing humanitarian and financial assistance. NATO and its Partners will
continue their efforts, including through the Euro-Atlantic Disaster
Response Co-ordination Centre to assist the co-ordination of the
international humanitarian effort.


The co-operation on the ground between NATO and the authorities of the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 is proceeding very well. Following
the Council decision of 31st March, a NATO liaison team was sent to Skopje
to further strengthen our liaison with the authorities, for as long as
circumstances require. We have been also looking at practical ways of
helping. For example, Council has decided, on an exceptional basis, to
waive the host country's usual share of 25 per cent of any damages caused
by NATO forces deployed under the Partnership for Peace Status of Forces
Agreement and under the command of COMARRC.


As the Alliance has repeatedly made clear, NATO forces stationed in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are not offensive forces. They are
enabling forces for what, we hope, will become the NATO-led Peace
Implementation Force that will be able to deploy swiftly to Kosovo to
assist with the implementation of a political settlement accepted by both
sides. We reiterate that any attack on the NATO forces stationed in the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would be met by an appropriate
response by the Alliance.


The security of all NATO member States is inseparably linked to that of all
Partner countries, especially those hosting NATO troops, and the security
of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is of a direct and material
concern to the Alliance. In that connection, NATO has repeatedly stated
that it would be unacceptable if the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were to
threaten the territorial integrity, political independence and security of
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. NATO will respond to any such
challenges to the security of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
stemming from the presence of NATO forces and their activities in its
territory.


The Alliance continues to broaden and deepen its co-operation with the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in matters beyond the current crisis.
The Partnership for Peace co-operation programme with the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia is developing into a very productive relationship
which will also assist the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to prepare
for possible future membership in the Alliance. It proceeds on the basis
of a revised Individual Partnership Programme (IPP) for 1998-2000 which, in
accordance with Spring 1998 Ministerial decisions, have enhanced and
supplemented PfP co-operation with the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia. Co-operation in this framework includes border security, civil
emergency planning, crisis management and logistics, exercises, as well as
direct material/technical assistance mainly from Nations.


NATO looks forward to its continued co-operation with the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia.