Note: Place names rendered primarily in Serbian spelling----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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"The endgame of the Kosovo negotiations...is being played where many
skeptics of the Rambouillet negotiations expected it would be: in Belgrade."
The Washington Post, February 18, 1999 - Rambouillet
"[The rules set for Rambouillet] are obviously being re-written, and if
[the Americans] are talking with Milosevic, it is obvious in whose favor
they are being rewritten."
Unnamed Kosovo Albanian delegate at Rambouillet
Quoted by Times (London), February 18, 1999 - Rambouillet
"He's still pretty negative, but he isn't closing the door completely."
Unnamed diplomatic source on Milosevic
Quoted by the Guardian (London) , February 19, 1999 - Rambouillet
"No NATO force is a deal breaker from our perspective... If there is no
agreement, then the Serbs need to know that we had said earlier whatever
side cratered the talks would be held responsible... And in the Serb case,
that means it would be followed by NATO bombing."
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
February 16, 1999 - Washington
"The agreements reached within NATO imply that military action will not be
automatic... If the Allies agree on use of force, in accordance with the
principles laid down in the UN Security Council resolutions, we would also
have to ask this question: What is the political objective?"
France's Defense Minister Alain Richard
Quoted by Agence France Presse, February 18, 1999 - Paris
"I hope with all my heart that both sides will understand that it is in
their interest to find an agreement because the side which does not
understand then would have to bear all the consequences, which would be
very serious for them and for their country."
France's President Jacques Chirac
February 19, 1999 - Washington
"We're waiting for one word from the big man."
Unnamed diplomat at Rambouillet on Milosevic
Quoted by Reuters, February 19, 1999 - Rambouillet
"No."
US Presidential spokesman Joe Lockhart, on whether mediators in France
would consider extending a February 20 deadline for a settlement in Rambouillet
Quoted by Agence France Presse, February 19, 1999 - Washington
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International news agencies reported US negotiator Chris Hill was
returning from Belgrade, after Yugoslavia's President Slobodan Milosevic
refused to meet with him today, and continued to insist he would not allow
foreign troops in Kosovo. Reuters quoted US State Department spokesman
James Rubin: "There can be no half-way agreement... It is hard to be
encouraged by the Serbian position at this time."
The International Helsinki Federation reported today that "since the
beginning of the Rambouillet Peace Conference on February 5, 1999, at least
18 Albanians have been killed, most of them by Serbian forces, while others
have been found dead in enigmatic and yet unclarified circumstances after
having been reported disappeared or kidnapped."
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I. CONTACT GROUP INTERIM AGREEMENT ON KOSOVO
* Security, implementation annexes final?
In a Rambouillet "situation report," the Balkan Action Council
(Washington) said yesterday that a Thursday draft of the Contact Group
negotiators' plan on security forces and a NATO implementation force within
Kosovo "makes reference to 2,500 Ministry of Interior special police
allowed to remain for up to two years, as had been foreshadowed in the
January 27 pre-conference draft. The military annex, however, has increased
the number of federal army troops permitted to remain indefinitely in
Kosovo for border patrolling from 1,500 to 2,500 by allotting an additional
1,000 troops for 'headquarters' and 'support' personnel."
The draft of the annex on security calls for "other forces" [forces other
than KFOR -- the likely name of a NATO implementation force in Kosovo --
Yugoslav Army, Serbian Interior Ministry forces, or local police] not to
carry weapons within a kilometer of Kosovo's main roads, still-to-be
determined MUP and VJ cantonment sites, and the border zone. The forces
must within 30 days of KFOR's deployment canton all weapons measuring 12.7
mm or larger and cease wearing military uniforms and insignia. Within 90
days, possession of large weapons or automatic weapons is illegal.
The military annex also calls for the withdrawal of all Serbian
anti-terrorist "special police" units; however, remaining Yugoslav Army
(VJ) and Interior Ministry (MUP) forces are required only to turn in
weapons larger than 82mm (Howitzers and other artillery), and are not
prohibited from bearing automatic weapons. VJ and MUP forces are also
given, respectively, 90 and 60 days in which to halve their current
deployments, and 180 and 120 days in which to bring forces down to levels
described above. All Serbian air defense weapons must be withdrawn no more
than 10 days after the entry into force of the agreement.
The Washington Post reported today that "Yugoslavia might also gain
greater flexibility on military matters included in any peace settlement,
such as an increase in the number of troops it would be allowed to position
along Kosovo's border with Albania."
BETA yesterday quoted that KLA political representative Adem Demaci:
"Disarmament is out of the question and the KLA will be the army of the
state of Kosovo." Agence France Presse reported yesterday the KLA general
staff also issued a statement on disarmament: "As long as other peoples
have their organized armed forces, the KLA will remain the army of the
people of Kosovo." The New York Times Wednesday reported Kosovo Albanian
negotiator Veton Surroi "said the KLA...should be allowed to keep some kind
of 'officer structure... It is my feeling you cannot go from an existing
stage to expect the whole thing to disband. There should be a midway."
* Political dimension of peace plan completed?
Reuters reported yesterday that "the troika of negotiators told reporters
they had handed the two parties Thursday a "final" draft of political
proposals... Diplomats said neither side was happy with the result."
Reuters also noted that after receiving new proposals by the Serbian
delegation incorporated by the international community into a draft
agreement, "ethnic Albanians were seething...they said [the proposals]
entrenched Yugoslav sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The most recent draft of the Kosovo interim agreement proposed by the
international community includes a phrase "desiring to establish
institutions of democratic self-government in Kosovo grounded in respect
for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, from which the authorities of governance set forth herein
originate." The Times (London) reported the addition of "an upper house [to
Kosovo's new parliament] containing members from all of Kosovo's ethnic
communities, with the threshold for representation reduced from 5% to .5%.
President Milosevic is said to have insisted on such a body, through which
he hopes to put a brake on the power of the proposed Albanian-dominated
lower House."
Reuters reported today Hasim Thaci, head Kosovo Albanian negotiator
"reportedly criticized the final draft agreement as so heavily weighted
toward the Serbs that he feared conference sponsors were setting up the
ethnic Albanians for blame if talks fail."
The New York Times today cited Fillippo di Robilant, an adviser to the
Albanian delegation, who said "the ethnic Albanian delegation...was unhappy
with a proposal to add a second chamber to the new legislature, in effect
potentially giving the Serbs veto power."
The Times (London) yesterday cited a European official who "said '...if
the KLA does not renounce independence, then there will be no NATO troops
in Kosovo.' He hoped that the ethnic Albanian negotiators...would accept
this principle, on the condition that the international community
guaranteed a Kosovo review conference in three, or preferably five years'
time." The New York Times reported today that diplomats "made clear...that
the political aspects of the peace settlement would not be the deal
breaker." United Press International reported yesterday that the "ethnic
Albanians are said to have given up one of their key demands, a national
referendum."
ARTA reported Wednesday: "[One Western diplomat speculated that]
'Albanians could organize the referendum after three or five years without
asking anyone'... Their referendum would be accepted if conditions were
appropriate for it, and if they could prove to the West they would not be a
destabilizing factor in the Balkans, but on the contrary a guarantor of
peace in the Balkans, having in mind here in particular Macedonia."
Reuters also yesterday cited an adviser to the Albanian delegation: "This
draft is so bad the Albanian side may well not sign it on Saturday... It's
getting messy."
The Guardian (London) reported today that "tough talks are also expected
over the appointment of a civilian representative for Kosovo, with the
Serbs strongly opposed to the American candidate, William Walker."
The Washington Times reported today that it had yet to be determined how
much an autonomous Kosovo would look like Yugoslavia: "For instance, would
it use the Yugoslav dinar?"
* Diplomats head to Belgrade with threats, concessions...
Reuters today cited a US diplomat saying Yugoslavia's President Slobodan
Milosevic "refused to see US envoy Chris Hill, who flew to Belgrade Friday
in a last-ditch effort to save the peace talks... 'If these guys are
bluffing, they are doing a very good job,' the diplomat, who is close to
the peace talks, said." Agence France Presse today reported that "US
Secretary of State Albright and her counterparts from France and Britain
might head to Belgrade at the weekend...western diplomats...said Friday.
'Nothing is ruled out, nothing is ruled in,' a European diplomat close to
the talks said."
Hill traveled Wednesday with British and French representatives, and
Serbian negotiator Nikola Sainovic to meet with Milosevic. US State
Department spokesman James Foley said Wednesday that Hill "delivered a very
clear message to President Milosevic...to come to terms now" with the
threat of NATO air strikes. Agence France Presse reported February 17 that
"a Western diplomatic source close to the Rambouillet conference,
said...that 'the talks lasted just about four hours.' "
The Times (London) reported yesterday that "the unilateral American move
so distressed Wolfgang Petrisch, the European Union envoy and mediator,
that he chased Mr. Hill's car to the airport on Tuesday in a vain attempt
to stop [Hill's] aircraft from taking off for Belgrade... [a source close
the Albanian delegation said]...that Boris Mayorsky, the Russian mediator,
was tempted to leave Rambouillet after he heard about the Belgrade visit.
The Russians made formal protests yesterday to America, France and Britain
yesterday, all of which had representatives on the secret Belgrade
shuttle." The Times (London) reported yesterday that "Albanian delegates
denounced the Rambouillet peace talks outside Paris after they learnt that
Nikola Sainovic, the main Serbian negotiator, had flown to Belgrade with
Chris Hill...breaking the fundamental confinement rules of the conference."
White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said today that "it would be a serious
mistake for [Belgrade] to walk away from the process... They need to
understand the consequences should they decide to walk away."
The Washington Post reported today that "with a clock ticking toward a
Saturday deadline [set by the Contact Group for Serbian and Yugoslav
government delegates to sign an interim status agreement for Kosovo with a
Kosovo Albanian delegation] Western diplomatic sources said [Yugoslav
President Slobodan] Milosevic was being offered some possible incentives to
agree to a peace accord, such as relief from political and economic
sanctions, including a ban on participation in international financial
institutions."
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said yesterday on the Newshour
with Jim Lehrer that she had spoken on the phone yesterday with Milosevic:
"I made very clear to him that time was running out, that there is a
deadline...for an agreement to be reached... I am generally concerned that
the military side of the talks is not really progressing."
The Washington Post report also noted that "the principal stumbling block
to achieving an agreement...remains the Serb-led Belgrade government's
opposition to accepting a NATO-l;ed force of 28,000 peacekeeping troops on
Serbian soil."
In a February 13 meeting, the Contact Group extended by a week the
original February 13 deadline.
Reuters reported yesterday that "Serbian sources say Milosevic wants
financial and diplomatic sanctions against Yugoslavia lifted and an
understanding that he will not be indicted as a suspected war criminal.
Diplomats say the West could not guarantee him immunity from prosecution
since that would undermine the independence of the...tribunal, but some
have speculated that Western powers might privately make clear they would
not offer prosecutors evidence against Milosevic."
United Press International noted yesterday that "diplomats said Belgrade
is meanwhile seeking the readmission of Yugoslavia to the United Nations,
to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe...and an end to
international economic sanctions." Associated Press reported Yugoslavia's
deputy Prime Minister Vuk Draskovic Wednesday "said any agreement must
include the lifting of all sanctions against our country, including our
full membership in all European and international organizations and forums."
US State Department spokesman James Foley said Wednesday that "Serb
policies in Kosovo are on of the several elements that are tied to the
outer wall of sanctions, not, certainly, the only one."
The New York Times reported today that "a senior Clinton administration
official said...that Washington had not made any hints that it would
consider easing sanctions."
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and France's Foreign Minister Hubert
Vedrine in a letter addressed to the people of Yugoslavia and sent to
independent news service BETA yesterday, said that Milosevic had a chance
to "either end the conflict and bring Yugoslavia into the family of modern
European nations, or thrust it once again into a cycle of internal
conflicts and isolation."
The Financial Times noted that Russia's envoy to the talks at Rambouillet,
Boris Mayorski, yesterday "dissociated himself and his country from any
military presence in Kosovo. He denounced as 'blatant lies' reports that
Russia was trying to persuade [Yugoslav President] Slobodan Milosevic...to
accept a NATO force."
* ...amid negative signs from Belgrade...
Reuters today quoted Yugoslavia's President Milosevic speaking to a
visiting Cypriot delegation: "[Yugoslavia] will not give up Kosovo, even if
we are bombed... Threats of bombarding our country if it does not allow
foreign occupation of its territory should be a warning for the whole world."
Independent Radio B-92 (Belgrade) reported yesterday that Socialist Party
spokesman Ivica Dacic "told a press conference that the deployment of
foreign troops without approval would be considered an act of aggression or
occupation and Belgrade would respond accordingly. Dacic declined to answer
whether it was possible that Yugoslav authorities could give their assent
to the arrival of foreign troops to secure any agreement made at
Rambouillet." Agence France Presse reported that "this is the first time
that a senior Serb official has raised, even indirectly, the possibility of
Belgrade's agreement to the deployment of an international peace force in
the Serbian province of Kosovo."
Associated Press today quoted Dragan Tomic, Serbia's parliament speaker
and a close ally of Milosevic: "Under no circumstances, absolutely out of
the question, should foreign troops be in Kosovo to enforce any political
agreement'... Sources close to the Serbian delegation at the talks said if
the pressure continues, they might consider allowing foreign troops in
Kosovo, but only if they did not include soldiers from 'unfriendly' nations
like the United States, Germany, Britain and France. Americans would never
accept such Serbian conditions, a senior Western diplomat said." Serbia's
President Milan Milutinovic said Wednesday that the only circumstance under
which Yugoslavia would accept NATO troops would be "only if we were a
member of NATO."
Following Hill's meeting Tuesday with Milosevic, state-owned news agency
Tanjug reported a Milosevic statement: "Our negative stand on the presence
of foreign troops is not only the attitude of the leadership, but also of
all the citizens of our country." However, Britain's Foreign Minister Robin
Cook noted that "Milosevic rarely confines himself to saying as brief as
saying no, and we are quite clear that there have been instructions given
to the Serb delegation with respect to that."
Agence France Presse reported yesterday that "Serb sources close to the
talks said 'frantic' discussions were taking place in Belgrade... The Serb
sources...said there was no clue whether Milosevic would back down... 'We
believe he'll make a decision in the last 24 hours before a deadline,' one
source said." Reuters yesterday cited a Serbian source saying Serbia's
President Milan Milutinovic "would return to Rambouillet from Belgrade
Thursday [after leaving Rambouillet the day before] 'in good faith and
fairly optimistic.' "
The New York Times reported today that "a senior European diplomat
involved in the negotiations, who knows Serbia well, said that top officers
in the Yugoslav army had told Milosevic that it would be very difficult for
the military to recover from air strikes against air defense system in
Serbia and Kosovo... Yugoslavia is economically weak and could not afford
to repair the damage to its military installations."
*...as deadline for talks approaches
Agence France Presse yesterday quoted an unnamed European source on the
negotiations: "Everybody is very, very clear, it's a firm deadline."
However, the Washington Post noted today that "if the final hours produce
signs that Milosevic is willing to make concessions, senior Western
officials said it was possible that the Saturday deadline might be
postponed by a day or two." Reuters reported Wednesday that "a senior
American official in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
that if the Serbs agreed to the NATO force, an extension of the talks
beyond the Saturday deadline might be considered to clear up some of the
remaining unresolved issues."
Agence France Presse reported today that "a source at the [KVM] mission
told AFP that half its 1,200 foreigners...could be evacuated later Friday,
with the others to follow on Saturday. The New York Times reported today
that KVM personnel "would drive out of Kosovo starting Sunday if the peace
talks failed, a NATO official said. The monitors...would have to leave
before air strikes could begin." Agence France Presse also reported that
"Britain and France joined Germany [today] in advising their nationals to
leave Yugoslavia at once and announced they would evacuate non-essential
staff from their embassies in Belgrade."
The US State Department announced yesterday that Secretary of State
Albright "plans to return to France on February 20 to urge both sides in
the negotiations at Rambouillet to seize this opportunity to achieve an
interim settlement agreement for Kosovo" but did not mention whether
Albright would actually travel to Rambouillet, noting that "the full
schedule of the Secretary's meetings in France has yet to be determined."
The Times (London) reported today that "the hottest whisper...beyond the
chateau gates was that Richard Holbrooke...was about to bring his messianic
touch to the talks."
* Allies still wrangling over threat of force
Agence France Presse quoted US Secretary of State Albright Tuesday: "No
NATO force is a deal breaker from our perspective... If there is no
agreement, then the Serbs need to know that we had said earlier whatever
side cratered the talks would be held responsible... And in the Serb case,
that means it would be followed by NATO bombing." The Washington Times
yesterday cited an unnamed senior US administration official: "If the Serbs
block what we feel is indispensable - a KFOR, or Kosovo implementation
force - that will emphatically trigger military force including air strikes
that are already in place." Agence France Presse reported that US deputy
Secretary of State Strobe Talbott told east European journalists in a
satellite interview that the only language [Yugoslavia's President
Milosevic understands] is force."
Reuters reported yesterday that NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana told
reporters during a visit to Sarajevo that "NATO will have all the political
support" to launch air strikes against Belgrade. Earlier, Solana while in
Macedonia said that "if a political solution is not reached, then we say
very clearly that NATO knows very well what it has to do."
US Secretary of State Albright said yesterday when asked about Solana's
authority to conduct air strikes that "[Solana] will clearly consult in an
informal way with...the Contact Group and a variety of countries... I think
it's very important to know that he has that authority already." The Times
(London) reported yesterday that recent comments by European diplomats
"appeared to rule out early NATO air strikes against Serbia if the talks
fail by 'high noon' on Saturday... The French still argue a full Contact
group meeting should be held before NATO bombers can be unleashed."
The Washington Post reported today that "NATO diplomats acknowledge there
are lingering anxieties among some European allies about the wisdom of
launching air strikes, especially in the absence of any explicit authority
from the UN Security Council... NATO diplomats said there were concerns
within the alliance about whether air strikes could backfire on Western
strategy... 'The alliance has always said it did not want to serve as the
KLA's air force,' a senior NATO diplomat said. 'But if we start bombing and
the Albanians see the chance to gain independence on the ground, there is
little hope they would come back to negotiations even if Milosevic had a
change of heart.' "
Agence France Presse cited a report today by state-run news agency Tanjug
(Belgrade) that Serbia's President Milan Milutinovic in an "urgent" message
to the Contact Group requested "protection against the repeated pressures
for our delegation to accept the so-called military annex,' that is the
stationing of foreign troops with a view to 'applying the accord,' drawn up
by the Contact Group.
Associated Press reported yesterday that France's Defense Minister Alain
Richard "said NATO will not automatically take military action against
Yugoslavia if an agreement is reached. 'The situation will have to be
evaluated,' Richard was quoted as saying in the interview being published
Friday in [Paris weekly] Le Figaro." Agence France Presse reported
yesterday that Richard also said: "The agreements reached within NATO imply
that military action will not be automatic... If the Allies agree on use of
force, in accordance with the principles laid down in the UN Security
Council resolutions, we would also have to ask this question: What is the
political objective?"
Deutsche Presse Agentur Wednesday cited a NATO official who "said...if the
talks failed, the NATO Council would meet Saturday afternoon. Air strikes
would be on the agenda,' said the official."
The Times (London) reported yesterday that "European diplomats close to
the Kosovo talks warned America yesterday to 'stop treating Serbia like
Iraq'... Their comments disclosed the increasing dissent within the Contact
Group, in which there is a rift over how best to coerce President
Milosevic... one [European] official...said that he was embarrassed by the
US Secretary of State's 'unfortunate' statement that, by not signing the
Kosovo peace deal, Mr. Milosevic risked almost immediate NATO retaliation.
'You have to stop the NATO drums of war. From time to time you have to calm
these people down a little.' "
Russia's President Boris Yeltsin, when asked today about the possible use
of force against Serbia to compel Belgrade to sign a peace agreement on
Kosovo, said that "I gave Clinton my opinion in a letter, and by telephone,
that [military action against Belgrade] won't pass. We will not let Kosovo
be touched."
Agence France Presse quoted White House spokesman PJ Crowley: "We are
confused by these reports...there has not been any communication between
the two presidents in the last 24 hours."
Reuters yesterday quoted US National Security Council spokesman David
Leavy saying that "we're aware that Russia has opposed the use of force in
Kosovo... But we've also made clear that should the Serbs refuse to comply
and refuse to sign a political settlement, that NATO has to consider
military action in its own interests, in the interests of the region and
the interests of the United States, and we will do so." Reuters reported
that US Secretary of State Albright and Norway's Foreign Minister Knut
Vollebaek "both spoke to Russia's foreign minister Igor Ivanov Thursday and
urged him to put pressure on Milosevic to accept a NATO ground force to
help implement a peace deal."
Reuters reported yesterday that "The Canadian and British embassies said
they would start withdrawing staff as the Saturday deadline approached...
[an unnamed US diplomat said] the US embassy was 'intensively planning a
potential departure'...but no orders had been given to leave as had been
the case in October ahead of similar threats." Agence France Presse
yesterday reported OSCE spokeswoman in Pristina Beatrice Lacoste "told AFP
that without an accord, or the prospect of one, then the mission would
leave. But she said there was no evacuation plan at present."
US Secretary of State Albright told reporters yesterday that "we are
beginning planning for evacuation, not only of [hundreds of Kosovo
monitors] but also of our people at our embassies in advance of NATO air
strikes."
* NATO examines strike options...
Reuters yesterday quoted an unnamed US official saying " 'there has been
talk about using Tomahawk missiles from US Navy ships in the Adriatic and
Mediterranean in any NATO operation'... [Another military official]
suggested that an initial strike of perhaps 50 Tomahawks could send a sharp
message to...Milosevic without immediately risking US and allied
warplanes." Associated Press said yesterday a senior Pentagon official said
"an attack would be likely to begin with scores of Tomahawk cruise missiles
launched from ships and submarines in the Mediterranean and Adriatic... The
first targets would be Serbia's strong air defense system with more than
600 anti-aircraft batteries across Yugoslavia, radar stations, and command
and control posts...opinion is divided among NATO officials about a second
wave [using bombers and fighter jets]."
Agence France Presse reported today that "successive waves of air attacks,
drawing on US carrier-based and land-based aircraft in Europe, would
quickly follow with little or now pause between them under the plans
preferred by NATO Supreme Commander General Wesley Clark."
Associated Press yesterday quoted US Defense Secretary Cohen: "[Air
strikes] would reduce some of [Milosevic's] ability to pose the kind of
threat that he has posed to the Kosovar people. It would be designed to
take down some of the assets that pose the most immediate threat to the
Kosovars."
Agence France Presse cited NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana from
Skopje, Macedonia following a meeting with Macedonia's Prime Minister,
Ljubco Georgievsky: "If negotiations fail, NATO knows very well what it is
going to do."
*... as US moves forces into place
The US Defense Department issued a statement February 17 saying Defense
Secretary Cohen had ordered the deployment of US-based aircraft to Europe
in support of potential NATO operations: "These previously designated
forces are deploying to their forward staging bases in Europe to increase
their readiness status for potential air operations over the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia... These aircraft are part of a total of about 260
aircraft that the United States committed to support air operations
developed by NATO last fall. Most of the U.S. combat aircraft committed to
the NATO effort are stationed at bases in Europe or aboard the aircraft
carrier USS Enterprise now deployed in the Mediterranean Sea. Aircraft of
European allies are also committed to possible operations and are being
readied at bases in Europe. Deploying aircraft include 12 F117 Nighthawk
stealth fighters, 10 EA6B Prowlers, four KC10 refuelers, and 25 KC135
refuelers. Additional U.S. aircraft, including bombers, remain in a standby
posture in the United States in case they are needed to support the operation."
* KFOR mission coming into focus
Reuters reported Wednesday: "NATO officials said military chiefs had
approved Operation Joint Guardian late Tuesday and NATO ambassadors,
meeting on a daily basis at alliance headquarters in Brussels, would give
it the green light later Wednesday. 'This will give us a detailed plan
ready for implementation,' [a] NATO official said, adding that the advance
force would be sent to Kosovo 'within hours' of any peace deal requiring
NATO implementation. That initial force would include the 2,300-strong,
primarily French, extraction force in Macedonia, a US Marine expeditionary
unit currently aboard the USS Nassau in the Adriatic, and elements of
NATO's German-based Allied Rapid Reaction Corps under British
Lieutenant-General Michael Jackson. 'That's 5,000-6,000 people in total
available for immediate deployment,' the NATO official said."
Reuters also noted that "Montenegro said earlier it would allow NATO
forces to use the Adriatic port of Bar to deploy peacekeeping troops into
Kosovo... NATO allies Britain, Germany, France and Italy were also shipping
equipment to Greece for four mechanized battalions to support the advance
force within a few days, officials said. 'We want to limit to a minimum the
time between the signatures on an agreement and K-day, the beginning of
NATO-led implementation,' an alliance official said. 'We want to avoid a
vacuum that could be exploited by either party to undermine or unravel any
peace settlement.' "
ARTA rerported Wednesday that the most recent NATO plan called for the
following division of responsibilities in Kosovo: "Pristina will belong to
the British, the border with Albania will be secured by the Americans, the
Italians will own the northern part of Kosovo, whereas the French will
enjoy themselves in the deep south."
II. DISPLACED PERSONS/KILLINGS/ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS/POPULATION CENTERS UNDER
SIEGE
*Situation worsening for aid organizations, personnel
Reuters Wednesday cited ethnic Albanian sources "[saying] a Kosovo
Albanian aid worker was found guilty on Wednesday of helping separatist
guerrillas and was sentenced to seven months time served, ethnic Albanian
sources said. Fatime Boshnjaku, 45, was arrested in mid-July while
delivering a vanload of food... The trial...has been postponed twice due to
unspecified 'security reasons' but a verdict and sentence were finally
handed down Wednesday... Wilfried Wesch, of the KVM [Kosovo Verification
Mission] in Djakovica, has described the arrest of Boshnjaku as an obvious
attempt to intimidate local aid workers."
Agence France Presse reported February 15 that "Serbian police seized two
convoys carrying food aid intended for the people of Kosovo... [Christel
Neudeck, spokeswoman for the German NGO Komitee Cap Anamur, said] police
siezed the convoys at a checkpoint... Each convoy was carrying 100 tons of
flour, oil and sugar. The police found that the two convoys' papers were in
order but [said] they would have to carry out checks on the suppliers of
the foodstuffs."
Reuters reported yesterday that "some aid organizations said they planned
to withdraw staff again [before the Saturday deadline]... Representatives
of all the non-governmental organizations operating in Kosovo were due to
meet Friday to review their evacuation plans."
* Number of displaced growing, unexplained deaths continuing
The Mother Theresa Society (Pristina) reported yesterday that the count of
displaced persons (IDPs) in Kosovo "has increased [from a January 15 count
of 224,948] by almost 52,000 to 276,851 primarily due to continued unrest
and fighting." The Mother Theresa Society reported large increases in the
number of IDPs in the Pristina, Pec, Djakovica, Suva Reka, and Ferizaj
districts. The NGO also noted that the "number of beneficiaries on the
rolls which includes social cases, host families and returning IDPs (a
separate count from the IDP count)... [stands at] 317,938, for a total
combined need of 594,789 people in need of assistance."
Associated Press reported February 13 that "a rare daytime bombing injured
at least nine people Saturday outside a government-owned bank in Kosovo...
As many as 20 shops were damaged in the afternoon blast just outside the
Jugobanka bank in Urosevac... The bomb was 'huge,' with an explosive power
perhaps equivalent to an anti-tank mine, said Jorgen Grunnet, spokesman for
the OSCE in Kosovo." No party has yet claimed responsibility for the
bombings. The International Helsinki Federation reported yesterday that
"while the perpetrators of such bomb attacks and explosions in urban,
public sites throughout Kosovo are unknown, the incidents are assumed to
have been signals by Serbian paramilitaries of opposition to the peace
process, and their determination to extend the program of anti-Albanian
intimidation that has been going on for over ten years."
Independent Radio 21 (Pristina) reported February 17 that two babies had
died due to lack of food and medical treatment in Dashinovac village in
Decan municipality.
The Committee for the Protection of Women and Children (Pristina) reported
February 11 that two Albanians were killed on their way to work in Dubrave
and Peje village, and noted that in Gllogovc village, one Albanian was
reported shot dead by Serbian police while stepping off from his tractor.
KDOM yesterday reported finding the bodies of two ethnic Albanians near the
village of Dubdevik in the Drenica area.
Independent news service ARTA (Pristina) reported February 16 that "a
small civilian Serb organized group have recently kidnapped and killed
several Albanians in the municipality of Peje...this phenomenon becomes
alarming, when people recall the previous actions of the terrorist group
'Black Hand.' "
ARTA reported February 16 that 30 Serbian police stopped and ill-treated
many Albanians in open market in Mitrovica. Radio 21 reported February 15
that unknown persons abducted two Albanians in Ferizaj. ARTA also reported
that "four Serb policemen abducted two young Albanians near the bus station
in Mitrovice." Independent Radio 21 stated February 16 that Serb forces
control Rahovec and three other villages in this Rahovec area.
ARTA reported February 17 that "constant movements [in Djakovica] of the
Serb army have been witnessed in the Albanian owned house yards...soldiers
ordered the residents of the village to turn the lights off during the
night [and] large Serb army forces have been stationed in this border village."
Mercy Corps International reported February 16 the results of a survey of
children's health and nutrition conducted jointly in Kosovo by Mercy Corps,
UNICEF and Action Against Hunger: "There are significant levels of stunting
[growth] which reflect multiple chronic factors like nutrition, genetics,
poor environment and diarrheal disease... other important indicators
regarding diarrhea... access to hygenic water and sanitation and access to
medical care demonstrate the need for intervention in these areas."
III. FIGHTING/FORCE DEPLOYMENTS
The International Helsinki Federation reported that "Serbian forces
[February 18] shelled the villages of the Podujeva region and the KLA
positions in Llapashtica, Lupc, Godishnjak, Majac and others. Reports of
casualties are not yet available as of this writing. There has been Serbian
artillery shelling against KLA positions and Albanian civilian
neighborhoods in Drenica region, near the village of Llapushnik."
Independent ARTA reported February 16 that more clashes were witnessed in
Podujeva region: "There are reports that the Serb police/military forces
used heavy weaponry starting from Praga [mobile anti-aircraft weapons],
mine launchers to cannons." ARTA February 17 reported another offensive by
Serbian police using heavy artillery, large-caliber cannons and other
weapons against the village of Llapashtice. ARTA also reported February 17
that "shooting [in Glogovac] lasted for about 50 minutes and that a
military plane circled above this area throughout the whole time of
confrontation."
The US Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission (KDOM) reported February 17 that
"there was some exchange of smallarms fire between Serb police and KLA
[Kosovo Liberation Army] personnel...in Luzane, along the PristinaPodujevo
highway. Also, in Gornja Lapastica, Serbian forces fired mortars on KLA
positions."
KDOM reported February 17 that "the Stimlje, Glogovac, and Kijevo areas of
southern Drenica remain very tense with heavy concentrations of VJ and
police... Serb police checkpoints near Orahovac established after the mass
killing at Rogovo are still operating at night. Checkpoints in Drenica
remain in place, but KDOM patrols note no expansion of their activities.
Villagers still complain of checkpoints in the west hindering freedom of
movement in the area."
Agence France Presse reported February 16 that near Racak, "police occupy
hilltop houses within sniper's range, and the army is understood to have
heavy weapons in the area that could be...trained on the village in a
matter of hours." ARTA reported February 17 that "a military convoy
comprised of two tanks, 3 APCs, 3 trucks, 2 jeeps and two terrain vehicles,
loaded with Serb soldiers and officers was seen leaving the military
barrack in Mitrovice [and stationed] in the village of Kutlovc....
[further] military movements were noticed in Kline region...a truck, a
terrain vehicle and an APC, filled with Serb soldiers, were stationed in
the village of Rigjeve, and broke into most Albanian houses [while]
military movements were also noticed in Sferke region as well."
Independent Radio 21 reported February 15 that "a convoy of Serb forces
backed up with 4 tanks, 4 vehicles carrying anti-air arms, 5 lorries and
other military vehicles went in the direction of Bukoshi village." Radio
21 also reported the movement and deployment of large military Serb force
in the vicinity of Perceve village in Klina municipality. ARTA reported
February 16 a "large military convoy, composed of 20 tanks, tens of
transporters and many other military vehicles and fighting machinery
arrived" in Kosovo from Belgrade.
KDOM reported February 16 observing "a significant increase in police
checkpoints around Pristina, and there were also reports of OSCE vehicles
being stopped by Serbian police... The F.R.Y. continues to rotate troops
into and within Kosovo, resulting in the visible movements of VJ [Yugoslav
Army] forces over the past few days. KVM continues to monitor troop
movements. An army "exercise" near Vucitrn reportedly has raised tensions
among residents of that area. These VJ activities appear to some to be
designed to provoke the KLA."
KDOM reported February 17: "Deep concern continues over the fate of the
two Serbian railroad policemen (Officers Markovic and Djuricic) kidnaped on
February 9 in Vucitrn. Over the past several days, both KDOM and the KVM
have undertaken intensive investigations of the disappearances but have
turned up no new leads. There have been no claims of responsibility for the
abductions and no ransom or prisonerexchange demands. The KLA general staff
insist they are not holding the two men. They told KDOM again yesterday
that their organization, as a policy, does not take hostages. They further
suggest that either the Albanian mafia or Serbian paramilitary units are
responsible for the kidnappings. The general staff has directed its
commanders to search for the men and has promised KDOM full cooperation in
whatever they discover." KDOM noted yesterday that "KDOM and KVM defused
another intermediate crisis in the kidnaping case when they arranged to
inspect the KLA headquarters premises in Lidovica which was believed by
Serb Police General Lukic to be the location in which the missing officers
were being held. KDOM/KVM personnel searched the buildings and found no
evidence of the missing men."
KDOM reported that "on February 12 at around 6:30 p.m., the KVM received
word of the shooting death of a civilian man and wounding of two policemen
near the village of Donji (3 km. south of Glogovac)."
The Committee for the Protection of Women and Children reported February
10 that "Podujevo villages are being shelled by Serb forces and Yugoslav
army [and that] tensions seem to be escalating in the Podujevo-Llapshtice
region, where VJ movements were noticed... In Malisheva municipality, Serb
artillery fire was reported as well."
IV. ARRESTS/DETENTIONS/REPRESSION
Radio 21 reported yesterday that a local LDK [Kosovo Democratic League]
leader was arrested by Serb security officials in his office in Urosevac
yesterday noon.
Independent news service BETA (Belgrade) reported that "a trial started on
Feb. 15, at the District court in Prokuplje against a group of 14
Albanians, who were arrested upon their return from temporary work abroad
at the end of July 1998, it was confirmed to BETA at the Prokuplje court. A
lawyer said that they were accused of uniting for the purpose of enemy
activities and terrorism. The Albanian language dailies reported that a
court procedure would begin, at the District Court in Gnjilane on Feb. 16,
against eight Kosovo Albanians from that municipality, accused of terrorism
and uniting for the purpose of enemy activities. It was reported that they
were arrested in two separate groups, on Aug. 15 and Oct. 15, 1998, and
were accused of participating in the organization of troops of the
separatist Kosovo Liberation Army on the territory of Gnjilane."
Radio 21 reported February 14 the arrest by Serbian forces of "more than
40 Albanians" in Urosevac in the wake of Saturday's bombing there. Local
independent media also reported the arrests of nine ethnic Albanians in
Podujevo, of eight ethnic Albanians in Mitrovica (including four arrested
while in a post office) and three Albanians in Djakovica district since
February 15. Radio 21 reported February 15 that one Albanian in Prizren
had sentenced to two years in prison.
Radio 21 reported February 15 that "seven Albanians were sentenced to
total 22 years in prison" in Pec district court.
KDOM reported February 18 that "according to media and other sources, five
KLA soldiers, reportedly off duty, were arrested by Serbian police in
Podujevo yesterday. Their whereabouts are unknown today."
