DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

The European Union takes note of the hostage releases that have already taken place. It demands the immediate and unconditional release of all those who are still being detained. It will hold the Serbian authorities of Bosnia­Herzegovina responsible for their fate.

The European Union supports the UN's efforts to give UNPROFOR a rapid reaction capacity enabling it to increase its security and perform its task more effectively.

The European Union calls on all parties to cease hostilities and for the diplomatic process to be relaunched. It wishes to express its gratitude to Lord Owen who has acted on its behalf with untiring devotion in the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia. It welcomes the fact that Mr Carl Bildt has agreed to succeed Lord Owen as the European Union's Co­Chairman - alongside Mr Stoltenberg, Co­Chairman for the UN - of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia. It can assure Mr Bildt of its support and expects him to undertake resolute diplomatic action to secure an overall settlement of the crisis on the basis of the achievements of the International Conference on the former Yugoslavia, and in particular to secure the implementation of the Peace Plan for Bosnia­Herzegovina.