Nato-Yugoslav Talks Break Down Over Terms of Yugoslav Withdrawal

Strategic Insights -

Nato's efforts to negotiate the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo have stalled, raising concerns that the conflict may not be resolved anytime soon. Despite initial agreements, the Yugoslav government has begun to renege on its commitments, sparking fears that Slobodan Milosevic is attempting to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Yugoslav government, led by President Slobodan Milosevic, has reneged on its commitments to withdraw its forces from Kosovo, citing concerns over the size and shape of the table and the location of the coffee house venue during negotiations.
  • The Yugoslav forces are demanding a "peace-time" level of up to 15,000 troops, which would be a significant increase from the 2,000 troops currently stationed in Kosovo.
  • The Yugoslav government is also seeking to have the international force, which is planned to enter Kosovo under United Nations auspices, delayed until a Security Council resolution is agreed upon.
  • Nato has stated that it plans to enter Kosovo as the Serb troops leave, to prevent a destabilising vacuum from which the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) could profit.
  • Western officials, including US envoy Richard Holbrooke and UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, have expressed concerns that Milosevic is attempting to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
  • Nato officials have stated that air strikes will "accelerating towards their prior intensity" and that there are other options on the table, including a ground invasion.

Statistics:

  • 40,000: The estimated number of Serb soldiers, special police, and paramilitaries in Kosovo.
  • 15,000: The proposed "peace-time" level of troops that the Yugoslav forces are demanding.
  • 25km: The distance that the Yugoslav forces are insisting that foreign troops must withdraw from within Serbia.
  • 15 miles: The conversion of the 25km distance to miles.
  • 7 days: The time period stipulated by Nato for the Yugoslav forces to withdraw from Kosovo.
  • 76 days: The length of the Nato bombing campaign.

Sources:

  • Financial Times Limited 1999
  • Nato spokesman Jamie Shea
  • UK Defence Secretary George Robertson
  • US envoy Richard Holbrooke
  • UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook
  • Serbian Prime Minister Slobodan Milosevic
  • Nebojsa Vujovic, Yugoslav foreign ministry spokesman