Use of violence by Yugoslav and Serb forces is condemned

The European Council adopted a strong declaration on Kosovo which condemned the use of "indiscriminate violence" by the Yugoslav and Serb security forces to impose their political terms.

It demanded that four specific steps be taken without delay - stopping security actions against civilians, allowing international monitoring, facilitating the return of refugees and entering political dialogue with Kosovar Albanians.

Unless this is done "a much stronger response, of a qualitatively different order", will be required, "including those which may require an authorisation by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter". EU leaders also agreed to impose a ban on air flights from Yugoslavia.

As the declaration was being agreed, President Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia was arriving in Moscow for his crucial meeting today with President Yeltsin.

EU leaders were very careful to stay within the general terms agreed by the Contact Group of major powers, including Russia, on the Kosovo crisis last Friday.

They obviously put great store by today's Moscow meeting, in the hope that Mr Milosevic will be able to read the signals coming from all directions, including now the Greeks, who permitted the use of bases for yesterday's NATO exercises.

By the time the European Council concludes today the meeting in Moscow may have concluded, permitting EU ministers to assess whether it has made a real difference. If it has not they face, along with the rest of the international community, a dilemma over whether to use the qualitatively different - military - methods referred to.

Given that the Russians have indicated they would veto a UN resolution authorising the use of force the question arises as to whether it is legally or politically necessary.

In a significant amendment to yesterday's declaration the word "would" was changed to "may" in the phrase referring to UN Security Council authorisation. This leaves the question open as to whether it will be required if military action against Serbia is to be be endorsed by the EU.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, said Ireland would argue for UN authorisation, but acknowledged that certain other member-states take a different view.

"The Kosovo crisis can only be resolved by political means around the negotiating table", he said. "We want Kosovo to be given a special status and a large degree of autonomy. Violence from the Kosovo Albanian side must also cease. Their leadership must renounce all acts of terrorism".

Mr Andrews has not raised last week's initiative by Ireland, Sweden, South Africa and Slovenia over nuclear disarmement at this EU meeting.

He considers it more effective to work through the United Nations, where it has been circulated widely, looking for co-sponsors for a General Assembly resolution.

It has been commended as to timing and substance by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan.