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As ethnic violence and attacks on international peacekeepers continue to plague Kosovo, UN officials have announced new regulations allowing peacekeepers to detain or remove individuals deemed disruptive to the peace. The move comes as ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova and rebel leaders pledge to cooperate with UN officials, while US
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The province's ethnic Albanian leaders are pushing for complete independence from Yugoslavia, while the Serbian minority continues to dwindle. Ibrahim Rugova, the head of the Democratic League of Kosovo, has stated that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has forfeited all sovereign rights to the province due to the campaign
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The nomination of Richard Holbrooke as UN ambassador finally received Senate approval after a protracted 14-month period marked by internal probes, controversy, and obstruction. The breakthrough came when Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) removed the final obstacle to a Senate vote by lifting his objections, stating he would vote in favor
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Sen. Charles E. Grassley, an Iowa Republican, continues to block the Senate approval of Richard Holbrooke as United Nations ambassador to protect a fired State Department whistleblower, Linda S. Shenwick, who was a $120,000-a-year management and finance analyst at the U.S. mission to the United Nations. Grassley'
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As Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stepped off a plane in Kosovo on Thursday, she was greeted by thousands of ethnic Albanians chanting "USA, USA". Her visit marked a significant moment in the province's fragile peace process. Despite the warm welcome, the trip was not without
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US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright yesterday met with ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo, including Hashim Thaci, head of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), and urged them to work with the UN administration to establish a democratic, multi-ethnic government. The KLA has been accused of exploiting the power vacuum created
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Hundreds of angry Yugoslav army reservists blocked central squares in two Serbian cities, demanding long-overdue pay for their service in Kosovo during NATO airstrikes. The protests, which have been ongoing for several weeks, have deepened tensions in the already unstable country. The reservists, who were sent to Kosovo to fight
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Tensions in Kosovo remain high as ethnic attacks against Serbs and Gypsies persist, despite a fragile peace agreement in place for nearly a month. Interim U.N. administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello has urged immediate action to stop the violence, calling it "criminal acts" that cannot be excused
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A senior UN official has expressed grave concern over the safety of UN staff in East Timor, citing a pattern of attacks by pro-Jakarta militias intent on disrupting the upcoming referendum on independence. The Indonesian police, responsible for security, have been criticized for their inadequate response to these attacks, with
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The United Nations' (UN) efforts to ensure a peaceful self-determination process in East Timor are commendable, but the organization has given little thought to the post-ballot transition, risking a potential plunge into civil war. The pro-Indonesian militia groups' recent aggressive activities, including the stoning of a UN office,
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Less than three weeks after the Kosovo conflict ended, Secretary-General Kofi Annan convened key international players to urge a more rapid deployment of troops and UN personnel to run the battered province. The meeting, attended by representatives from 16 nations and three international organizations, aimed to accelerate the deployment of
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More than 400,000 ethnic Albanians have hastily returned to Kosovo, despite warnings from aid agencies and NATO that parts of the province remain too perilous. Many fled due to regular visits from Serb police, with some being forced out under gunpoint. Refugees who couldn't afford the typical
