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“ I regret to say that the forces of peace, particularly in Kosovo, are weak, and it is of paramount importance that they be strengthened. In that human and political effort the United Nations and Member States of this Organization, individually or collectively, should take part — I repeat, should take part.
In sum, the United Nations should not abandon the region, should not run from the troubles and should prevent the worst from happening. Extension of the mandate of UNPREDEP should be seen, therefore, as providing important support to the peace forces in the region. ”

“ It is our sole reminder of the undeniable cost-effectiveness of prevention in all aspects of international peace and security. The success of the Force has been all the more impressive in light of the situation in Kosovo. Given this success and the region’s instability, Canada strongly supports renewing UNPREDEP’s mandate. We worked hard — unfortunately, to no avail — to convince the concerned parties to agree to the Force’s extension and to overcome the bilateral concerns which threatened its continuation. ”

“ UNPREDEP has been mandated by the Security Council with precisely this responsibility in mind and, in particular, to serve the international interest in stability in the region to which the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia belongs.
The European Union sincerely hopes that all Governments concerned, both in the Security Council and in the region, will make every effort to maintain the United Nations current stabilizing presence in the region. ”