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July 23, 2000: "Th[e Airlie Conference] did, in fact, provide the first opportunity since the war for a broad group of representatives of Serb and Albanian communities to meet face to face. Perhaps the most difficult decision in a peace process is the choice to meet the other and to work together. At this meeting, the participants crossed that threshold. The event featured a productive, useful, and yet emotional and difficult dialogue among the participants. There was talk of suffering and of guilt. There were accusations, but there was also talk of reconciliation and the way forward. And it is a joint way forward that was discussed. After an arduous, sometimes contentious process, there was a declaration upon which the participants agreed. The declaration is a very good start, but it is a beginning only. The dialogue begun at Airlie House will have to continue in Kosovo. Both sides understand this, and the Department endorses this effort. As you can see, the declaration commits both sides to cooperate in the areas of elections, media, civil society, security, and returns . . ." --Ambassador John Menzies, Director of the Office of Kosovo Implementation Excerpt from briefing on Kosovo leaders' "Pact Against Violence" declaration

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