Already, the OSCE has proven to be a valuable collaborator, examples of which I will outline later. However, this partnership can extend even further. It can more effectively address emerging, as well as ongoing problems, particularly in the areas of conflict resolution, verification of peace settlements and post-conflict reconciliation. Since I last met with you in January 1996, and particularly over the last year, displacement has become more complex. The lack of political progress in resolving conflicts has slowed down and even blocked solutions.
Humanitarian activities continue to be used as a stop-gap measure pending full political solutions.
The agreement reached this week in Belgrade is an important first step to addressing the plight of some 300,000 refugees and other displaced people who have been forced to flee their homes. However, a great challenge remains ahead. Up until this last weekend, people have continued to flee their homes in terror. The causes of civilian displacement were brutally clear during my assessment mission in Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania just three weeks ago. While serious human rights violations by the Kosovo Liberation Army have been reported, the main cause for displacement has been the excessive use of force by government security units.