After Kosovo: Building a Lasting Peace.(Remarks before the Council on Foreign Relations, New York City, dune 28, 1999. )

Remarks before the Council on Foreign Relations, New York City, dune 28, 1999.

Thank you very much, Les. That was very generous of you. Thank you. Good evening to all of you in this fantastic new setting. Members of the Council on Foreign Relations and distinguished colleagues, friends, and guests: NATO's confrontation with Belgrade over Kosovo has ended in accordance with the conditions the alliance set. Now we face the even harder task of building a lasting peace there and throughout southeast Europe. This evening, I would like to discuss with you this historic challenge.

Churchill once described Russia as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. In Kosovo today, we see a success folded within a tragedy stamped with a question mark.

Consider the reactions of the refugees and displaced as their time of exile ends. For some, coming home means a joyous reunion of family and friends. For others, it means a heart-stopping confirmation of terrible fears as bodies are identified, and mass graves found. For all, it means uncertainty about what will come next.

As a result, Kosovo today is a cauldron of grief mixed with exhilaration, of unresolved anger, and unfulfilled dreams. Out of this, the international community and the area's people must build a future secure and free. A starting point is provided by UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and the military and political arrangements to which it refers. In accordance with these, Serb forces have left, KFOR is deploying, and the Kosovo Liberation Army will demilitarize over the next 90 days.

In addition, the United Nations Interim Mission is being set up. It will operate in partnership with the EU and OSCE, donor countries, and KFOR. Its duties will encompass civil administration, humanitarian relief, economic recovery, and the creation of democratic institutions, including--most crucially--a new local police.

Assembling the nuts and bolts of a durable peace in Kosovo is a daunting challenge. Our expectations should be realistic. The mission will take time; complaints will surely be heard. And despite KFOR's presence, the danger of violence will persist. As is usual, the good news will of en be treated as no news, while setbacks receive the spotlight] Success will require an extraordinary team effort.

Notwithstanding all this, I am hopeful for three reasons.

First, for most of …