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United Nations

NATO Postpones Deadline for KLA Demilitarization in Kosovo

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

NATO and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) negotiators continued talks into the early morning hours, ultimately agreeing to postpone the deadline for demilitarization by 48 hours. The initial deadline of midnight Sunday was set for the KLA to demilitarize and transform into a civilian Kosovo Corps. However, KLA leaders refused to sign the agreement, citing concerns over the name, control, and arms retention. The new deadline for demilitarization is set for midnight Tuesday.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NATO-led peacekeepers in Kosovo negotiated with KLA leaders, including Hashim Thaci and Gen. Agim Ceku, to transform the KLA into a civilian Kosovo Corps.
  • KLA leaders objected to the name "Kosovo Corps," fearing it falls short of an independent force, and sought to retain more weapons than NATO allowed.
  • The new deadline for demilitarization is set for midnight Tuesday, 48 hours later than the initial deadline.
  • NATO has insisted that foreign peacekeepers must be the only armed force in Kosovo, a stance opposed by the Russians and Serbs who consider the KLA terrorists.
  • The negotiations continued for over six hours beyond the midnight deadline for the KLA to hand in all its weapons.
  • The United Nations and NATO were seeking KLA approval of a plan to transform the former rebel army into a 5,000-member civilian force for humanitarian and rescue missions.

Statistics:

  • 48 hours: the new deadline for KLA demilitarization, pushed back from the initial midnight Sunday deadline.
  • 5,000 members: the proposed size of the civilian Kosovo Corps.
  • 18 months: the duration of the war between the KLA and Serbs.
  • 78 days: the length of NATO bombing against Yugoslav forces under Slobodan Milosevic.
  • Midnight Tuesday: the new deadline for KLA demilitarization.

Sources:

  • Associated Press, ROBERT H. REID, "NATO Postpones Deadline for Kosovo Liberation Army Demilitarization"
  • UN-backed plan: unnamed (from the source material)
  • Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic: mentioned as having accepted a UN-backed plan (from the source material)
  • Diplomatic source: spoke on condition of anonymity, providing information on KLA leaders' objections (from the source material)
  • Gen. Mike Jackson: NATO commander of peacekeepers in Kosovo (from the source material)
  • Gen. Agim Ceku: KLA military chief (from the source material)
  • Hashim Thaci: KLA political leader (from the source material)
  • Bernard Kouchner: U.N. mission chief (from the source material)

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