Kosovo and U.S. Policy
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 region. They were outraged by Serb atrocities against ethnic Albanian civilians, and feared that the conflict could drag in other countries and destabilize the region. These efforts culminated in a 78-day NATO bombing campaign against Serbia from March to June 1999. Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic withdrew his forces from the province in June 1999. Since that time, Kosovo has been governed by an interim U.N. civil administration, under the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244. At an undetermined time after an autonomous government is in place, Kosovo s final status is to be considered. Almost all ethnic Albanians want independence for Kosovo; Serbs say it should remain within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). The NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR is charged with providing a secure environment for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1244. Kosovo held municipal elections on October 28, 2000. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), led by moderate Ibrahim Rugova handily defeated its leading competitor, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, led by ex-Kosovo Liberation Army commander Hashim Thaci. Almost all ethnic Serbs in Kosovo boycotted the vote. In May 2001, the U.N. civil administration issued a Constitutional Framework for Kosovo. The Constitutional Framework provides for an elected legislature and an autonomous government with limited powers, but does not deal with Kosovo s final status. Elections for the Kosovo assembly were held on November 17, 2001. About half of eligible Serb voters participated in the vote, after being urged to do so by the Yugoslav and Serbian governments. Political wrangling delayed the formation of a government for months, but one was finally approved by the parliament in March 2002.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 03, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA479222
Entities
People
- Julie Kim
- Steven J. Woehrel
Organizations
- Library of Congress