Soldiers
Chinese scholar Yang Mingjie emphasized the nation's strong support for the United Nations, citing China's contribution of over 3,000 troops and police to peacekeeping missions since the late 1980s. This support is evident in recent deployments, including a third peacekeeping riot police contingent sent to
Soldiers
On December 12, 1985, a tragic plane crash in Gander, Newfoundland, claimed the lives of 248 U.S. Army soldiers and eight crew members. The soldiers, all members of the 101st Airborne Division, were heading home to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, after completing peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Peninsula. The crash,
United Nations
Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy issued a call for the United Nations to play a greater role in maintaining peace in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are set to withdraw by July. Levy made the invitation during a visit to the United Nations, where he met with Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Sierra Leone
Fighting between Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels and Nigerian peacekeepers in Freetown, Sierra Leone has escalated, with a 5,000-strong crowd demanding that RUF leader Foday Sankoh respect a crumbling peace agreement. The situation has led to concerns that the country may return to all-out civil war. Armed members of
Sierra Leone
The UN peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone, known as Unamsil, has been marred by a series of failures, including the recent hostage-taking of 500 UN peacekeepers by a rebel group. The capture was a result of the peacekeepers' lack of preparation, equipment, and training, as well as their being
United Nations
US and British governments agreed to provide limited assistance to the struggling UN peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone, where rebels are holding over 500 UN soldiers hostage and continuing to kill civilians. Despite appeals from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the Clinton administration has offered only to transport 700 Bangladeshi
United Nations
As the UN prepares to deploy an international force to restore order in East Timor, a UN emergency expert has traveled out of the capital to visit the largest concentration of refugees, finding them struggling to survive on minimal aid. The Security Council has approved the deployment of up to
United Nations
Tens of thousands of refugees in East Timor are facing the threat of mass starvation and disease, prompting the United Nations to warn that emergency airdrops are needed within days to prevent widespread suffering. The Australian government has promised to "carry the bulk of the burden" of providing
Kosovo Liberation Army
The opening phase of Kosovo's liberation has gone surprisingly well, with the Yugoslav army and Serb police withdrawing ahead of schedule. NATO-led peace-keeping forces, K-For, have moved in quickly and efficiently, and the issue over Russia's participation has been resolved. However, two pressing tasks must be
Kosovo Liberation Army
The province of Kosovo took a crucial step towards normalcy as the last Yugoslav troops departed and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) signed a deal with the NATO-led peacekeeping force, KFOR, to demilitarize and surrender its heavy weapons. The agreement, signed in Pristina, requires the KLA to shed its uniforms,
Milosevic, Slobodan
US-Russia relations remain precarious, eight years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. A cycle of hope and disappointment is likely to continue, with the emphasis on disappointment, due to upcoming elections in both nations. Experts warn that Russia will continue to assert its interests and limit US influence in
Milosevic, Slobodan
The recent conflict in Kosovo is a clear indication of the destructive power of Slobodan Milosevic, the indicted war criminal who has been responsible for three bloody Balkan wars over the past eight years. Despite his diminished capacity for military action, Milosevic's malevolent presence remains a major obstacle
