At its session held on 25 January, the Foreign Affairs Committee discussed the introduction of a resolution on Kosovo and Metohia into the House of Representatives of the United States Congress.

Committee members resolved to propose to the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and chairpersons of deputies’ groups to hold a session of the National Assembly where the deputies would be addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Draskovic. Mr Draskovic would be invited to inform the Assembly of scheduled contacts and discussions with officials of the administration and Congress during his visit to the United States from 1 to 9 February 2005.

The Committee concluded that the only option available at this moment to authorities of Serbia and Montenegro was to challenge the credibility of the resolution proposed by Congressman Tom Lantos.

Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia also discussed the decision of the US Department of State to withhold part of its assistance to Serbia and Montenegro. The Committee agreed that the press statement released by Richard Boucher, Spokesman of the Department of State, proved that the measures in question did not amount to sanctions but rather to a halt in part of the assistance formerly earmarked for the Government of the Republic of Serbia, which is being withheld for the second time according to the same pattern. In order for the Serbian public to be informed as fully as possible, the Committee called on the media to publish the complete text of the statement released by the Spokesman of the Department of State.

Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 13, 2005

Serbia and Montenegro Assistance

The Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005 Section 563 (c) prohibits assistance to the central government of Serbia after May 31, 2005 unless the Secretary of State certifies that the government of Serbia and Montenegro has taken action to, cooperate with the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, “including access for investigators, the provision of documents, and the surrender and transfer of indictees or assistance in their apprehension, including making all practicable efforts to apprehend and transfer Ratko Mladic,” and certain other steps.

In March of 2004, the Secretary declined to certify to Congress that Serbia and Montenegro was cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia resulting in the withholding of a significant portion of our assistance after March 31, 2004. Since the Secretary’s decision last March, there has been no improvement in Serbia and Montenegro’s cooperation with the Tribunal.

Consistent with his previous finding, and in light of the continuing record of non-cooperation the Secretary has decided to withhold $10 million in assistance for fiscal year 2005. This amount is in addition to the more than $16 million that remains withheld from the FY2004 assistance budget. We are examining alternative ways to use these funds to further our policy objectives. In designing our aid package this year, we have redirected funds away from the central government, focusing our $73.6 million in assistance on organizations and programs outside of the central government that are committed to reform.

We call on the authorities in Belgrade to cooperate fully with the Tribunal by arresting and transferring fugitive indictees, particularly Ratko Mladic, to face justice in The Hague.

The Secretary is prepared to review this decision if future actions by Serbia and Montenegro demonstrate their cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

2005/61
Released on January 13, 2005