18 October 2001

U.S. Will Strongly Defend Rights of Muslim Minorities

The United States continues to be "absolutely committed to the rights and protection of national minorities," the deputy chief of the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Douglas A. Davidson, said October 18.

In remarks to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Davidson stressed that U.S. actions to combat terrorism are not directed at ethnic or religious groups, and that America "will strongly defend the rights of Muslim minorities who live within our borders and abroad."

Following is a transcript of his remarks, which includes comments on improving inter-ethnic relations in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We too are pleased to welcome High Commissioner Ekeus to the Permanent Council. We very much appreciate his update on his activities and the situations in Macedonia, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, and elsewhere.

In the wake of the September 11 tragedies in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, the United States continues to be absolutely committed to the rights and protection of national minorities. Our actions to combat terrorism are not directed at ethnic or religious groups. We will strongly defend the rights of Muslim minorities who live within our borders and abroad.

Unfortunately, the OSCE continues to have much work to do to protect the rights of minorities and encourage tolerance for different ethnic groups. Mr. Ekeus, the United States welcomes your efforts to conduct on-site assessments and undertake preventive diplomacy. Assisting in the implementation of the Framework Agreement in Macedonia is a critical objective for all of us and one in which your office can play a significant role. Annex C of the Framework Agreement specifically calls for continued OSCE help on projects designed to improve inter-ethnic relations as well as for continued assistance in the area of higher education. We thus support the work of your office, in cooperation with other OSCE institutions and the OSCE Mission in Skopje, in consulting with Macedonian authorities on how the OSCE can help implement those measures next year. Ensuring that Southeast European University opens on schedule and with full funding, is a crucial part of this. Full implementation of the Framework Agreement continues to be the basis for ensuring the stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of a unitary, democratic and multi-ethnic Macedonia. We look forward to seeing a strengthened HCNM role in that implementation.

The United States would also like to reiterate our comment in the follow-up discussion on the Bucharest meeting on Roma and Sinti last week. We strongly support the continued engagement of the High Commissioner on National Minorities on issues relating to Roma and Sinti.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.