Kosovo Crisis Deepens as International Funding Dwindles and Domestic Protests Intensify

Strategic Insights -

A growing influx of Russian troops to the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo may alleviate ethnic tensions, but international funding for humanitarian aid is dwindling, leaving thousands of refugees in a precarious situation. Domestic protests against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic have become more widespread, with tens of thousands of demonstrators demanding his resignation. As the crisis deepens, opposition leaders are intensifying their efforts to bring about a change in government.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Kosovo crisis has drained away support for Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, with tens of thousands of protesters marching to demand his resignation.
  • NATO's stalemate with Russia over the deployment of troops has ended, and new planeloads of Russian soldiers and equipment are arriving in Pristina daily to work alongside NATO troops.
  • The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, has appealed for more money to help Kosovo Albanian refugees returning from Albania and Macedonia, citing a shortage of funding to support operations for about a week.
  • The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has budgeted about $389 million for Kosovo operations this year and has received only $155 million, a shortfall of approximately 60%.
  • Opposition leader Zoran Djindjic has vowed to continue protests until Milosevic resigns, saying "Every day . . . we must be in all the streets and stay until he (Milosevic) leaves."
  • Serbia's main opposition leader, Vuk Draskovic, has refused to join a coalition government led by Premier Momir Bulatovic, further isolating Milosevic.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 606,300 refugees have flooded back into Kosovo since the NATO peacekeepers arrived.
  • The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has budgeted $389 million for Kosovo operations this year.
  • So far, the agency has received only $155 million, a shortfall of approximately 60%.
  • New planeloads of Russian soldiers and equipment are arriving in Pristina daily.
  • The Russian contingent will eventually number 3,600 and will be deployed in several sectors, including Orahovac and Malisevo in the German sector.

Sources:

  • Donna Bryson, "Kosovo Crisis Deepens as International Funding Dwindles" (exact source not found; possibly a news article from a contemporary or similar publication)
  • U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees press release on Kosovo operations