Following shootings, Security Council meets to discuss situation in Kosovo

In the wake of last week's shooting death of two Kosovo Serb teenagers, and the injuring of four others, the United Nations Security Council today met to consider the situation in Kosovo during which participants condemned the brutal killings and expressed concern at the continued violence.

Speaking at the outset of the Council's open meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Nebojsa Covic, said the hideous attack on innocent children swimming in the river near their homes in Kosovo and Metohia had taken place only because they were Serbs. It was an attempt to send a message to all Serbs that they had to leave and there is no chance for a multi-ethnic society, he added.

Mr. Covic said while he appreciated UN action to bring the perpetrators to justice, it was necessary to accept the fact that last week's crimes were not unique - they belonged to a pattern of activity by a determined minority of the Albanian population to bring the ethnic cleansing of the province to completion.

The Deputy Prime Minister said vigorous and decisive measures were needed to fulfil Security Council resolutions that have been agreed upon, including major progress in the return of internally displaced persons and security and freedom of movement of all ethnic communities.

During the meeting, all 15 members of the Council also condemned the violence and expressed deep concern that four years after the conflict such brutal incidents continued to occur.