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North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Clinton Raises Concerns Over Milosevic's False Promises in Kosovo

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

President Clinton expressed his concerns about Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's tactics, warning that he is "playing the classic game of making false promises" to avoid NATO military strikes in Kosovo. Clinton was on a telephone call with Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who argued that Milosevic is complying with U.N. demands. However, Clinton emphasized that Milosevic's compliance "must be verifiable, tangible and irreversible," according to press secretary Joe Lockhart. The United States is offering Milosevic a deal that would defer a decision on Kosovo's independence for two or three years, but this proposal has been met with skepticism from NATO nations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Clinton expressed concern about Milosevic's tactics, accusing him of making false promises to avoid NATO military strikes in Kosovo.
  • The United States is offering Milosevic a deal that would defer a decision on Kosovo's independence for two or three years.
  • The proposal would permit ethnic Albanians in Kosovo to have their own civil institutions, police, and schools, but deferring a decision on independence.
  • Special police units accused of committing atrocities against ethnic Albanians are still active in Kosovo, despite the Belgrade government's claims they were being withdrawn.
  • U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported that Yugoslav forces are responsible for most recent atrocities in Kosovo, and that 275,000 refugees have not been allowed to return to their homes.
  • NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana and the United States agree that there is sufficient evidence in the report to indicate that the special units are still active.

Statistics:

  • 275,000: The estimated number of refugees who have not been allowed to return to their homes in Kosovo.
  • 16: The number of NATO nations that are debating whether to bomb the Serbs in retaliation for the violence in Kosovo.
  • 2-3 years: The time period proposed by the United States for deferring a decision on Kosovo's independence.
  • 23 September: The date of the U.N. resolution that Yugoslav forces are accused of violating.

Sources:

  • "President Clinton Expresses Concern Over Milosevic's Tactics in Kosovo" by The Associated Press.
  • "U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Reports on Kosovo Situation" by Reuters.
  • "NATO and US Agree on Evidence of Serbia Atrocities" by Agence France-Presse.

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