November 3, 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

STATEMENT BY J. ADAM ERELI, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

Restoration of Normal Trade Relations Status for Serbia and Montenegro

The Secretary of State has determined and certified that Serbia and Montenegro has met the criteria set forth in Public Law 102-420 for restoration of Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status. The statute provides for a thirty-day waiting period following certification before restoration of Normal Trade Relations takes effect. This decision has been conveyed to Congress, and a notice will be published in the Federal Register.

Normal Trade Relations status was revoked in 1992 in response to support by the Milosevic regime for ethnic cleansing and other acts of aggression and human rights abuses in Bosnia and Herzegovinia by the Army of the Republika Srpska and Serb paramilitary forces.

In the context of the 1995 Dayton Accords, and particularly since fall of Milosevic in 2000, Belgrade's relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina has been fundamentally transformed. Serbia and Montenegro has adopted a foreign policy of cooperation and partnership with its neighbors and the international community. Serbia and Montenegro has also begun to implement the tough measures necessary for economic recovery after a decade of sanctions. Restoring Normal Trade Relations status underscores United States support for these reforms and will help encourage economic growth, a key component to maintaining stability in the region.

3. novembar 2003

STEJT DIPARTMENT
Kancelarija portparola

IZJAVA ADAMA ERELIJA, ZAMENIKA PORTPAROLA

Obnova statusa normalnih trgovinskih odnosa za Srbiju i Crnu Goru

Državni sekretar je odlučio i potvrdio da je Srbija i Crna Gora ispunila kriterijume definisane Javnim zakonom 102-420 u vezi obnove statusa normalnih trgovinskih odnosa (NTR). Statut predviđa period od trideset dana nakon sertifikacije pre nego što normalizacija trgovinskih odnosa stupi na snagu. Ova odluka je preneta Kongresu i biće objavljena u Federalnom Registru.

Status normalnih trgovinskih odnosa ukinut je 1992. godine kao odgovor na podršku Miloševićevog režima etničkom čišćenju i drugim aktima agresije i kršenja ljudskih prava u Bosni i Hercegovini od strane Vojske Republike Srpske i srpskih paramilitarnih formacija.

U kontekstu Dejtonskog mirovnog sporazuma iz 1995. godine, i naročito nakon pada Miloševića 2000. godine, odnos Beograda prema Bosni i Hercegovini promenio se iz osnova. Srbija i Crna Gora je usvojila spoljnu politiku zasnovanu na saradnji i prijateljstvu sa susedima i međunarodnom zajednicom. Srbija i Crna Gora je takođe započela sa sprovođenjem teških mera koje su neophodne za ekonomski oporavak nakon decenije sankcija. Obnova statusa normalnih trgovinskih odnosa naglašava podršku Sjedinjenih Država ovim reformama i ohrabriće ekonomski rast koji je ključni element za održanje stabilnosti u regionu.