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North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Diplomatic Efforts to Release US Soldiers in Yugoslavia Disrupted by NATO Strikes

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Cypriot acting president Spyros Kyprianou was due to travel to Belgrade to discuss the release of three US soldiers captured by Serb forces, but his mission was disrupted due to ongoing NATO strikes against Serb targets. The US State Department announced plans for a Cypriot mission to secure the release of the soldiers, but emphasized that any release must be unconditional. The soldiers were captured by Yugoslav forces on March 31 while patrolling the Yugoslav-Macedonian border.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US State Department announced plans for a Cypriot mission to Belgrade to secure the release of three US soldiers, but emphasized that any release must be unconditional.
  • Cypriot acting president Spyros Kyprianou was advised not to travel to Belgrade due to ongoing NATO strikes against Serb targets.
  • The soldiers were captured by Yugoslav forces on March 31 while patrolling the Yugoslav-Macedonian border.
  • Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic has set preconditions for releasing the US captives, but details of these conditions have not been disclosed.
  • NATO has ruled out any conditions for the release of the soldiers and has continued its airstrikes against Serb targets.
  • The diplomatic efforts to release the soldiers come amid a fresh diplomatic offensive by Milosevic, who declared a unilateral ceasefire for Orthodox Easter this weekend.
  • The US military has informed the soldiers' families that a release is under discussion, but the outcome is uncertain.

Statistics:

  • Three US soldiers, Army Specialist Steven Gonzales, 21, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, 24, and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone, 25, were captured by Yugoslav forces on March 31.
  • The soldiers' families expressed hope but wariness of reports that the men might soon be released.
  • Lisa McKinney, the mother-in-law of Sgt Stone, said, "I'll believe it when I see it."
  • The KLA is reported to have been largely destroyed, with many guerrillas retreated from Yugoslavia.
  • Yugoslav officials claim to have all but vanquished the KLA.
  • 90% of Yugoslav forces have been taken out of Kosovo, according to Miroslav Lazanski, a military analyst who recently spent three days with the Yugoslav Army in Kosovo.

Sources:

  • The Cypriot government's announcement of Spyros Kyprianou's mission to Belgrade (Reuters)
  • The US State Department's statement on the Cypriot mission (NY Times)
  • The statement by Lisa McKinney, mother-in-law of Sgt Stone (AP)
  • The interview with Miroslav Lazanski, military analyst (BBC)

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