FR of Yugoslavia/southern Serbia: HC's warning

Briefing notes

FR of Yugoslavia/southern Serbia: HC's warning

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

2 March 2001

The High Commissioner, Ruud Lubbers, has warned against an overly hasty change in southern Serbia's ground safety zone - a buffer belt which separates Serbia proper from UN-administered Kosovo. "Any rapid change of the situation in the ground safety zone could destabilise the area and cause further displacement of ethnic Albanians from southern Serbia into Kosovo. This could have a negative knock-on effect on the already precarious situation of Kosovo's vulnerable ethnic minorities," said Lubbers.

In addition, the Special Envoy for the region, Mr. Eric Morris, will have a press conference here this afternoon at 1400 hours to discuss this and other issues.