Kosovo and U.S. Policy: Background and Current Issues
Abstract
In 1998 and 1999, the United States and its NATO allies attempted to put an end to escalating violence between ethnic Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav/Serb forces in Yugoslavia's Kosovo province in southern Serbia. These efforts culminated in a 78-day NATO bombing campaign (Operation Alied Force) against Serbia from March until June 1999, when then-Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic agreed to withdraw his forces from the province. Since then, Kosovo has been governed by a combination of U.N. and local Kosovar interim governing structures. Under the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244, the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) retained ultimate political authority in the province. A NATO-led peacekeeping force, KFOR, was charged with providing a secure environment. UNSC Resolution 1244 did not settle Kosovo's disputed status, but called for status to be considered at an undetermined time after an autonomous government was in place. Almost all ethnic Albanians want independence for Kosovo; Serbs say Kosovo remains an integral part of Serbia. In mid-2005, the U.N. launched a comprehensive review of the Kosovo standards, or benchmarks of progress. On this basis, the U.N. Security Council endorsed the start of status negotiations for Kosovo in early 2006 under the lead of former Finnish President Martii Ahtisaari. In November, Ahtisaari postponed the release of a proposal for the selilement of Kosovo's status until after Serbia held key early elections on January 21, 2007. Following that vote, which produced an unsettled political outcome, Ahtisaari presented his proposal for Kosovo's status to the contact group and the parties. His draft provides a blueprint for Kosovo's independence with some limits to its sovereignty. After final consultations with the parties, the proposal is expected to come before the U.N. Security Council this spring.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 27, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA469387
Entities
People
- Julie Kim
- Steven J. Woehrel
Organizations
- Library of Congress