Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

The United States appreciates the early appearance before the Permanent Council of Minister Geoana as our new Chairman-in Office.  Mr. Minister, your presence here at our very first meeting signals the importance you place on leading this organization as we embark on another busy, and we all know, very challenging year.  We wish you and your team, lead by our friend and colleague Ambassador Bota, the greatest success in the year that lies ahead.

You covered a great deal of ground in your comprehensive presentation.  In the spirit of perhaps provoking a bit of discussion, I would like to take the opportunity to ask you a question or two on a number of issues that are priorities for us.

The OSCE's unwavering stand in defense of its principles has brought us, we believe, to a turning point in the Balkans.  Due to recent changes in the political landscape, we are offered a unique opportunity to coordinate programs across all of our Missions in this area.  I would be interested in knowing what role you see OSCE playing regionally and how we can best make operational any regional approach.

We all hope to approve a decision later this morning creating the OSCE Mission in Yugoslavia.  We expect it to play a crucial role in helping to consolidate the democratic transition, advance respect for human rights, and enhance greater stability.   I would be interested in knowing your priorities for this Mission and what steps you might take to ensure that the Mission satisfies your expectations.

With respect to Kosovo, we are going to hear later today from Ambassador Everts.  It would be of interest to me to know your vision of the steps that OSCE can take this year to promote tolerance and multi-ethnicity in Kosovo.

Whether in Southeast Europe or elsewhere in the OSCE, we seek to promote regional security that will enhance progress on democratization and economic reform.  We would welcome your thoughts and encourage creative thinking on the role we can play in promoting regional security through good governance, as well as economic and environmental activities which would foster public participation, and more transparent, democratic processes.

Mr. Minister, we share your strong support for the Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) in Belarus.  We remain deeply concerned about: the failure of the government in Belarus to resolve the disappearances of Interior Minister Zakharenko, who disappeared on May 7, 1999; Deputy Parliamentary Chairman Gonchar and Anatoly Krasovsky, who disappeared on September 16, 1999; and Belarusian journalist Zavadsky, who disappeared six months ago on July 7, 2000.  We are also troubled by the most recent government actions against free media such as the failure to renew the transmitter license for Belarus' large independent TV station and effective censorship of an article in the country's leading independent newspaper.

The forthcoming presidential elections will provide another opportunity for Belarus to demonstrate its commitment to OSCE principles, particularly with respect to creation of an environment for free elections that includes respect for human rights and the rule of law.  With this in mind, we would be interested in your views about the kind of role that the OSCE might play to support a domestic observation effort and through its election expertise.

We also remain concerned about the continuing conflict in Chechnya and the fact that we have not yet been able to return our Assistance Group to the region.  We would be interested in your plans to accomplish just that.

Mr. Minister, several people have talked about our internal operations.  For the United States REACT represents an important OSCE initiative to improve our ability to deploy more effectively and rapidly civilian experts to address crises.  Our Secretariat has made significant progress in developing a strong program that we believe could be ready for implementation as early as March.  We are hopeful that as a new Human Resource Director assumes office, we could actually meet this date.  I would be interested in your views as Chairman about how you would ensure prompt implementation of this program and how we might improve our capacity to respond to crises, including through cooperation with member states and other organizations and institutions.

Mr. Minister, we agree that it is essential that we work cooperatively to face many familiar and some new challenges throughout this year.  To that end, we will not always agree with each other, but you can count on us to be committed to support your efforts to address the pressing issues before this organization.  The United States looks forward to working with you for the rest of this year. 
Thank you, Mr. Minister.