Full Text of Yugoslav Offer

The governments of Yugoslavia and Serbia have declared a unilateral cessation of operations against the Kosovo Liberation Army beginning at 1800 gmt on 6th April.

The statement said the cease-fire was being declared "in honour of Easter", but not indicate what its duration would be.

Text of report by Serbian TV on 6th April:

The FRY [Federal Republic of Yugoslavia] government and the government of the Republic of Serbia at separate sessions passed the following joint statement:

Starting from the agreement between FRY President Slobodan Milosevic and Dr Ibrahim Rugova [leader of Democratic League of Kosovo] in the joint statement signed by them on 1st April 1999, that the problems in Kosmet [Kosovo-Metohija] should be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, and keeping in mind that the further details were worked out of this joint commitment in the meeting between Dr Ibrahim Rugova and FRY Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic on 5th April 1999, when agreement was reached on the following:

• to work jointly on reaching a political agreement;
• to work jointly on the return of the refugees;

The FRY government and the government of the Republic of Serbia, assessing that there is a need to approach the realization without delay of these commitments, and resolve the most serious problem first, have come to the following joint conclusion:

1. That, in honour of the greatest Christian holiday - Easter - all military and police actions in Kosovo-Metohija against the terrorist organization OVK [Kosovo Liberation Army - UCK] are to cease unilaterally as of 2000 [1800 gmt] on 6th April 1999, in anticipation that such a decision will be construed as a goodwill gesture and a contribution to a peaceful resolution, which is the undisputed wish of the majority of the population of Kosovo-Metohija, regardless of religious or national affiliation.

Also expecting that the extreme elements, respecting the will of the majority of the population, will also refrain from repeating terrorist actions against civilians and the representatives of the authorities.

2. That the representatives of the government, together with the representatives of the Albanians represented by Dr Ibrahim Rugova, prepare a political agreement in the sense that joint work is done on reaching a political agreement with the wish that, first, a simple, temporary agreement be reached that would enable the work of joint bodies of self-government in Kosovo-Metohija of the Albanian and Serbian ethnic communities, and other ethnic communities.

This agreement after a certain period would be the basis for a lasting settlement for a broad autonomy of Kosovo-Metohija within Serbia and Yugoslavia.

3. That, together with the representatives of the Albanians represented by Dr Ibrahim Rugova, they prepare a programme for the return of the refugees with an adequate participation and assistance by the UNHCR and the ICRC.

The FRY government and the government of the Republic of Serbia believe that this way all the current issues in Kosovo-Metohija will be resolved, peace will be stabilized, the refugees returned and self-government established, the equality of the citizens and ethnic communities affirmed and the basis for a lasting solution established.

Source: RTS SAT TV, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 1500 gmt 6 Apr 99