We learned with great regret and deep concern that ten Kosovar persons, two of them reported to be our kinsman, lost their lives and that a large number of people, some of them were KFOR personnel, were injured during violence erupted at the weekend in the north side of Mitrovica, following the missile attack which was carried out on last Wednesday (2 February 2000) in Kosovo against UN High Commissioner's bus carrying civilians.

We have been recommending since the beginning that all communities in Kosovo should refrain from using force and should keep their patience. It is of utmost importance that a pluralist and collaborative democratic atmosphere should be established in a manner to guarantee the rights of all the ethnic groups in Kosovo and to preserve the multi-ethnical, multi-cultural and multi-religious structure of the region.

The recent events have shown once more that how sensitive is the balance holding the peace and stability in Kosovo and made it clear that more serious measures should be taken to ensure the public security. Turkey will continue to exert its efforts in this direction.