DTS: GOVERNMENTS - STATEMENT

Federal and Republic Governments propose a unilateral cease-fire

BELGRADE, April 6 - The Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, at separate sittings, adopted a joint statement in which they proposed, on the occasion of the greatest Christian holiday - Easter - ,that all actions by the Army and the police against the terrorist organization KLA in Kosovo and Metohija be unilaterally discontinued as of 8.00 p.m. April 6.

The statement of the two Governments, as carried by Tanjug, reads:

"Proceeding from the agreement reached by FR Yugoslavia's President Slobodan Miloševic and Dr Ibrahim Rugova and set out in the Joint Statement they signed on April 1st, 1999, to the effect that the problems of Kosmet should be resolved exclusively by peaceful means;

-considering the further detailing of this joint commitment during the meeting between Dr Ibrahim Rugova and Federal Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Šainovic (April 5th, 1999) when they agreed:

- the Federal Government and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, assessing that these commitments should be carried out without hesitation and that first of all acute problems should be addressed, jointly concluded as follows:

1. to unilaterally discontinue, on the occasion of the greatest Christian holiday - Easter - all actions by the Army and police in Kosovo and Metohija against the terrorist organization KLA as of 8.00 p.m. on April 6th, 1999 anticipating that this decision will be understood as a gesture of goodwill and the desire to support a peaceful settlement which is undoubtedly the concern of most citizens of Kosovo and Metohija, regardless of their national origin or religious affiliation, and also anticipating that the extremists will show respect for the will of the majority population, will exercise restraint and will not repeat their terrorist actions against civilians and representatives of the authorities;

2. that the representatives of the governments should immediately, in co-operation with the representatives of the Albanians represented by Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, proceed to prepare a political agreement as per a) above, desirous first of all to reach a simple interim agreement which would enable the operation of joint organs of self-rule in Kosovo and Metohija of the Albanian and Serbian national communities as well as of other national communities. This agreement would, after a certain period of time, serve as the basis for a lasting regulation of meaningful autonomy of Kosovo and Metohija within the framework of Serbia and Yugoslavia.

3. to prepare, together with the representatives of the Albanians represented by Dr Ibrahim Rugova, a refugee return programme with the adequate participation and assistance of the UNHCR and the ICRC. The Federal Government and the Government of the Republic of Serbia believe that all acute issues in Kosovo and Metohija are addressed in this manner - stabilization of peace, return of refugees and establishment of self-rule - thus affirming the equality of citizens and national communities and laying down the basis for a durable solution."(end)