Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. High Commissioner, for your presentation to us today on your recent activities.

We strongly support your efforts and your initiative to found the Southeastern Europe University in Tetovo.

We believe that the success of the school will be a major step forward in inter-ethnic relations in Macedonia and a significant improvement in the higher education landscape.

It will do much to help bring stability, which is crucial for the success of our common effort in Kosovo and throughout the region.  

Strong support and rapid progress is needed to instill confidence in this project. and while commitments of support have been made verbally, as you mentioned yourself, follow-through has often lagged.  We are concerned that the amounts of assistance will not allow this very important project to move forward to successful completion and believe that we must work together to make it, in fact, a success. 

As you mentioned, the United States is ready to commit 5 million USD in 2001, and we anticipate further financial and technical assistance over the years that follow. We believe that concrete commitments of this magnitude are needed from other donors as well in this very year to make this a success.

We encourage OSCE member states to consider and proceed quickly with support  -- financial, technical, and through linkages and partnerships with their universities and institutions. 

Mr. High Commissioner, we welcome your report of productive initial contacts with the Government of Yugoslavia on national minority issues. 

Helping address issues of concern to national minorities in Yugoslavia will be among the most important work that the OSCE can accomplish there. 

We hope that you and your office will place Yugoslavia among its highest priorities, and keep us informed if you require further assistance or support. 

We are pleased that you remain engaged with the Slovak Government and we appreciate our Slovak colleague’s announcement this morning as well.  We believe your personal attention has helped focus greater political energy and public attention on minority issues in Slovakia, and we encourage you to continue a vigorous dialogue with Slovak authorities.

We, too, welcome the recent decision by Slovakia's Cabinet to accede to the European Charter on Regional and Minority Languages and we hope that this step will be used to create further momentum to clear the way for progress on other important issues such as constitutional and public administration changes that will further strengthen Slovakia's democratic institutions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.