Madame Chairperson, although already a truism, this is an historic occasion for the OSCE.

The United States warmly welcomes the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as the OSCE’s newest member.

We also welcome Foreign Minister Svilanovic to the Permanent Council. More significantly, we welcome the commitments that his country has made.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s commitment to the Helsinki Final Act, the Paris Charter for a New Europe, the Charter for European Security, all other OSCE documents and to "all OSCE principles and standards" means that we stand on the verge of a new era in Southeast Europe, one where peace and cooperation stand a better chance than they have in more than a decade.

This OSCE has expended a great deal of time, effort, and expense to seek to contribute to a resolution of the crisis in the Former Yugoslavia, and you and your Minister, Madame Chairperson, have done a great deal to bring us to this moment.

The OSCE has for a long time held out the promise of a close, cooperative relationship with Yugoslavia, when it took the necessary steps to become part of this gathering.

Now that day has come.

For over eight years, we have looked forward to the day when Yugoslavia would join the OSCE on an equal basis with the other successor states of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

We look forward to Yugoslavia’s full participation in our collective commitments, most recently affirmed in the Charter for European Security, "to build a free, democratic and more integrated Europe where States are at peace with each other, and individuals and communities live in freedom, prosperity, and security."

Yugoslavia’s effort to implement this commitment represents a dramatic change for the region and for all of us.

We congratulate President Kostunica on his leadership in bringing peaceful, democratic change to Yugoslavia.

But more importantly, congratulate the people of Yugoslavia for their bravery and their determination to vote against those who brought so much suffering, pain, and isolation and for those who offered the hope of a democratic, tolerant, and peaceful future.

We look forward to Yugoslavia’s full compliance with its commitments to the international community.

There are many difficult issues that Yugoslavia must address.

Among the most pressing are the many political prisoners imprisoned by the former regime, including almost a thousand Kosovo Albanians. They all should be treated with respect and should be released as soon as possible. I want especially to mention one among them who is a member of our OSCE staff, Mr. Bekim Kastrati.

We also expect Yugoslavia to comply with its obligation to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Permanent peace among neighbors will be elusive in the region until there is an understanding that specific individuals, and not entire ethnic groups, bear responsibility for the horrendous acts that occurred. The Tribunal will play an important role in this process.

In conclusion, I would like to restate the firm determination of the United States to work with Yugoslavia, here in the OSCE and in other settings, to help it address the many problems that remain and to bring it fully into our community. We extend our hand of friendship, and are pleased that today we are able to join others in welcoming Yugoslavia into the OSCE.

Thank you, Madame Chairperson.