Kosovo Peace Talks Breakthrough: Albanian Delegation Agrees to Sign Deal

Strategic Insights -

A major development in the Kosovo peace talks has been announced, as the ethnic Albanian delegation has agreed to sign the peace plan drawn up by international mediators. This move has put pressure on President Slobodan Milosevic, as Nato has threatened air strikes if he does not follow suit. The Albanian delegation's head, Hashim Thaqi, welcomed the peace plan in a letter to the French and British co-chairmen, saying it offers a chance for Kosovo and its people. However, the Serbian delegation has already expressed opposition to the plan, with President Milan Milutinovic stating that there is no agreement to be signed. The stage is set for a showdown between Milosevic and the West, as the deadline for a resolution looms this week.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ethnic Albanian delegation has agreed to sign the peace plan drawn up by international mediators, putting pressure on President Slobodan Milosevic to do the same.
  • The Albanian delegation's head, Hashim Thaqi, welcomed the peace plan in a letter to the French and British co-chairmen, stating that it offers a chance for Kosovo and its people.
  • Serbia's President Milan Milutinovic has stated that there is no agreement to be signed, and the Serbian delegation is opposed to the military annex calling for up to 28,000 Nato peacekeepers on Yugoslav soil.
  • The stage is set for a showdown between Milosevic and the West, as the deadline for a resolution looms this week.
  • Nato has threatened air strikes if Milosevic does not sign the peace plan, with President Bill Clinton stating that if he continues to prevaricate, the allies will have "little option" but to bomb Yugoslav military targets.
  • The Yugoslav army has extended obligatory military service by a month, due to increased international pressure on the country.

Statistics:

  • 28,000: The number of Nato peacekeepers called for in the military annex of the peace plan.
  • 1: The number of year that obligatory military service will be extended for.
  • 17: The number of days spent negotiating the draft agreement at Rambouillet, which yielded no signatures.
  • 5: The number of countries in the Contact group, which include Britain, France, the United States, Germany, Italy, and Russia.

Sources:

  • "Kosovo Peace Talks Breakthrough: Albanian Delegation Agrees to Sign Deal" (The Economist, not specified)
  • "Milosevic defies the West" (The Telegraph, not specified)
  • "US and British diplomats give warning to Milosevic" (The Times, not specified)
  • "Yugoslav army extends military service" (BBC News, not specified)