Washington, DC -- July 24, 2000 -- Kosovo Albanian and Serb political and community leaders declared a Pact Against Violence at a meeting at Airlie House, in Warrenton, Virginia [Airlie Declaration]. The workshop represented the first time that these leaders have sat face to face and discussed in depth their divisions and how to overcome them. In their joint declaration they acknowledged that they:

. . . faced each other in a spirit of searching together for positive steps. . . toward building a peaceful accommodation, despite the great pains and sorrows suffered in past conflicts…it [is] difficult to proceed without more time for healing…more reaching out to one another in a spirit of sharing and understanding for past suffering.

Major Kosovo leaders participated, including Serbian Orthodox Bishop Artemije Radosavljevic, Ibrahim Rugova, and Hashim Thaci. Bishop Artemije observed that the resulting joint declaration was the first positive document reached by Serb and Albanian dialogue in one hundred years. "It is a historical moment -- and therefore should be a good beginning."

Amongst other areas of concern, the participants reached agreement on the subjects of elections, media, civil society, security, and returns. In addition, they identified areas for priority attention by the international community.

"By agreeing to participate in this workshop, each individual has demonstrated not only incredible courage but his or her confidence in the potential of a multi-ethnic Kosovo," pointed out Executive Vice President Harriet Hentges, vice chair of the workshop. "Although agreements were difficult and hard-won, the spirit in which they approached each other was nothing short of remarkable."

Organized by the United States Institute of Peace at the request of the U.S. Department of State, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Learning, the workshop participants met for three days to discuss how to coexist in a multi-ethnic society. The Airlie workshop was the fourth in a series of Institute-facilitated discussions.

The U.S. Institute of Peace is a non-partisan, independent organization created and funded by the U.S. Congress to promote prevention and resolution of international conflicts.