Approximately 800,000 people were killed during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The systematic slaughter of men, women and children which took place over the course of about 100 days between April and July of 1994 will forever be remembered as one of the most abhorrent events of the twentieth century. Rwandans killed Rwandans, brutally decimating the Tutsi population of the country, but also targetting moderate Hutus. Appalling atrocities were committed, by militia and armed forces, but also by civilians against other civilians.

It is evident that the alarming development of the security and overall situation in Kosovo and Metohija since KFOR and UNMIK deployment, characterized by mass terror against the Serbian and other non-Albanian population which resulted in the killing of 447 Serbs and other nonAlbanians, abduction of 648 and the expulsion of over 330 000 of Serbs, Montenegrins, Muslim, Roma, Turks, Gorani, Croats and Egyptian and other non-Albanians, i.e. a massive ethnic cleansing has been brought about directly by an irresponsible and highly indolent attitude of KFOR and UNMIK, in particular the Special Representative towards their responsibilities under Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

In my statement of 2 November I reported that my discussions with the parties are well advanced.

I have, since then, met the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister as well as President Clinton and last week and today I have had further meetings with the parties.

In a few minutes I will leave for Norway where leaders will gather to honor the memory of one of the great heros of this century, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin. We will honor him by not only remembering his life, but by pursuing his vision of a peaceful Middle East.

The Security Council,

Recalling its previous relevant resolutions and in particular its resolutions 986 (1995) of 14 April 1995, 1111 (1997) of 4 June 1997, 1129 (1997) of 12 September 1997, 1143 (1997) of 4 December 1997, 1153 (1998) of 20 February 1998, 1175 (1998) of 19 June 1998, 1210 (1998) of 24 November 1998 and 1242 (1999) of 21 May 1999,

Recalling also the report of the Secretary-General of 19 August 1999 (S/1999/896), in particular, paragraphs 4 and 94,