Diplomatic Crisis Looms Over Kosovo as NATO and Russia Clash at UN

Strategic Insights -

Tensions ran high outside Bonn on Monday as United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov engaged in daylong talks aimed at resolving a pivotal UN Security Council resolution that seeks to legitimize a NATO-led force in Kosovo. The talks, which also included foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations, were suspended until Tuesday after Mr. Ivanov requested time to get instructions from President Boris Yeltsin. The resolution, backed by the United States and NATO, would eliminate a problem raised by Serbian military officers in talks with NATO, blocking plans for a handover in Kosovo between 40,000 Serbian forces and NATO peacekeepers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN Security Council resolution seeks to legitimize a NATO-led force in Kosovo, which has been stalled due to concerns raised by Serbian military officers.
  • The talks outside Bonn involved US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, and foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations.
  • The Russian delegation, led by Mr. Ivanov, was seeking to distance itself from the talks involving NATO, despite having obtained Belgrade's acceptance of the international peace plan for Kosovo.
  • French officials hinted at backing ground action by NATO forces in Kosovo without UN approval if necessary.
  • NATO has maintained that bombing would resume while waiting for new developments in Belgrade, where opposition to the war has reportedly surfaced strongly.
  • The US has stated that it would not consider accepting a peacekeeping force without NATO at its core.
  • Western leaders have accused Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic of reneging on his promise to accept the peace plan.
  • The talks were aimed at resolving a "sequencing" issue, which refers to the timing of a bombing halt and the authorization of a UN resolution.
  • Diplomats believe that prompt Russian support is crucial in obtaining Serbian compliance with the proposed UN resolution.

Statistics:

  • 40,000: The number of Serbian forces stationed in Kosovo.
  • 7: The number of countries represented by the Group of Seven nations.
  • 1: The time the talks outside Bonn were suspended until Tuesday.

Sources:

  • The New York Times
  • The Washington Post
  • Reuters
  • Associated Press