European Union Leaders Present Diplomatic Plan for Kosovo

Strategic Insights -

European leaders presented a plan to resolve the Kosovo crisis by placing the province under temporary international European administration, if President Slobodan Milosevic agreed to withdraw his forces and allow hundreds of thousands of Albanian refugees to return. The European Union's proposal, discussed today by 15 EU countries, comes as NATO continues its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. The plan would involve the European Union, the United Nations, and Russia in diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, and has been welcomed by Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union's plan proposes placing Kosovo under temporary international European administration, if President Milosevic agrees to withdraw his forces and allow Albanian refugees to return.
  • The plan has been welcomed by Secretary General Kofi Annan and is seen as a potential breakthrough in the diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.
  • NATO continued its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia today, with heavy strikes on Belgrade, but the European Union's proposal could signal a shift towards more diplomatic efforts.
  • The plan includes a police force reflecting Kosovo's ethnic composition, elections, and the deployment of international military forces to guarantee protection for the population.
  • Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of Germany said that the goal of both diplomacy and NATO military action was to create a change in Yugoslavia that would stop Serbian attacks on Albanian population centers and insure safety for all two million people in Kosovo.
  • The European Union has reaffirmed plans to provide $160 million for refugee relief and $107 million to Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro to help them provide for the hundreds of thousands of Kosovo Albanians who have fled to those countries.
  • The NATO allies insist that any international military force should be led and commanded by the alliance, possibly under a mandate from the United Nations.
  • American officials have given the European initiative little chance of being accepted by Belgrade, but are willing to try everything despite skepticism.

Statistics:

  • 90 percent of the two million people in Kosovo are ethnic Albanians.
  • 1,000 American, British, French, Dutch, and German warplanes are participating in the bombing campaign.
  • $267 million is being allocated by the European Union for refugee relief and aid to the affected countries.
  • 15 European Union countries discussed the plan today.
  • 24 hours of suspension of the bombing campaign was proposed in the German plan if Mr. Milosevic began pulling forces out of Kosovo by deadlines set by Security Council resolutions.

Sources:

  • Bloomberg, "European Union Proposes Diplomatic Plan to End Kosovo Crisis"
  • Deutsche Presse-Agentur, "EU Plan Sees International Admin"
  • The New York Times, "Europe Offers a New Plan for Kosovo, and NATO Continues Bombing"
  • Agence France-Presse, "EU offers Kosovo plan, NATO continues bombing"
  • Reuters, "EU proposes Kosovo plan, NATO continues bombing"