Unfortunately the recent flare up of ethnic violence in Kosovo has shown our work is far from being done. The Euro-Atlantic community put the Western Balkans on the right track of stabilization and integration. We now have to focus on helping them stay to course. The international community, its leading organizations, UNO, NATO, European Union, OSCE have shown the same commitment and stayed involved. NATO has already taken action by reinforcing its presence on the ground.

Romania itself is and will remain involved. Romanian gendarmes and military police are patrolling the streets of Mitrovica. In New York, our representative has contributed in the Security Council to the adoption of the Statement on the situation in Kosovo. But the situation cannot be solved only by the International Community, countries and communities in the region should prove wisdom, restraint and willingness for that. The future of their people depends on it. What should be done? But before all, any violence should stop immediately. We all have the responsibility for conveying this message. The special representative of the Secretary General, UNMIK and KFOR are supposed to use their capabilities and powers to restore calm and protect the people of Kosovo regardless of their ethnic identity.

Secondly, we should encourage and welcome NATO?s decision to send reinforcements to Kosovo. Any attack against KFOR troops and UNMIK personnel is unacceptable to us. The authors of such attacks and of any of the violent acts that erupted in Kosovo must be brought to justice as soon as possible.

Thirdly, it would be important for all of us, but especially for the situation in Kosovo, that the political leaders in Kosovo shall exercise their democratically established authority over the population in the region in order to protect all minorities and their extremely important religious, cultural and historical heritage.

Now, what can the International Community do about this?

Let me suggest that we might design a sui generis policy of, let?s call it, a containment strategy for Kosovo, namely to block any temptation of emotional attitudes to feed the potential of crisis and conflict in Kosovo.

It is, therefore, very important that all the neighbors in the region should become engaged in European Institutions or Euro-Atlantic Institution, one way or another, as soon as possible. That?s why, I would also focus on the importance of such statement, but also on the paragraph of our draft joint statement focusing on the way the neighbors of Kosovo region could become engaged in the process of the enlargement of NATO, building one or another status with the allies, for the time being.

I think that we have to understand that the stand-by situation, that freezed in a way the potential without doing more for economic results, and the social situation in Kosovo might still create upheavals and tumult.

Perhaps today, we?ll have time to discuss more about that. I don?t want to receive a notice from you, it is far from here, it would be very difficult to send it, that?s why I should stop by now but hoping that we will be able to contain the negative evolution in Kosovo and resume the dialogue between the communities in the region.

Thank you for your attention.