Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic Accepts Kosovo Peace Plan with Conditions

Strategic Insights -

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic accepted elements of a Kosovo peace plan on Wednesday, but insisted that the details must be negotiated directly with the United Nations. However, this appears to fall short of Western conditions for halting NATO's eight-week bombing campaign, which require an unequivocal acceptance of the international plan. As the talks between Milosevic and Russian envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin concluded, NATO warplanes unleashed their strongest attack in two weeks against the Belgrade area, hitting a hospital near a military barracks and killing at least three people.

Key Takeaways:

  • Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic accepted elements of the Kosovo peace plan, but insisted on negotiations directly with the United Nations.
  • NATO warplanes launched their strongest attack in two weeks against the Belgrade area, hitting a hospital and killing at least three people.
  • Milosevic has rejected demands for a total withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo and the deployment of an international security force with armed components.
  • The Group of Eight nations (G-8) is divided over the definition of an "international security presence" in Kosovo, with the United States advocating for an armed military force with NATO at its core.
  • The Russian envoy, Viktor Chernomyrdin, met with US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari to brief them on the Belgrade meeting.
  • Envoys from the G-8 group gathered in Bonn, Germany, to try to draft a UN resolution codifying their peace plan, but were still divided on some details.
  • The State Department reported that opposition to Milosevic's handling of the Kosovo crisis is increasing, with as many as 500 Serb soldiers deserting in Kosovo.

Statistics:

  • At least 3 people killed in NASA's strongest attack in two weeks against the Belgrade area.
  • At least 6 people killed in airstrikes elsewhere in Serbia, including 2 prisoners at a jail in Istok, northwestern Kosovo.
  • Up to 500 Serb soldiers deserting in Kosovo.
  • NATO's bombing campaign has lasted for 8 weeks.
  • The G-8 peace plan has been on the table for 2 weeks.
  • The Belgrade meeting between Milosevic and Chernomyrdin lasted for almost 8 hours.
  • The protests in Krusevac held for the second straight day, with 6 arrests reported.

Sources:

  • "Yugoslav President Accepts Parts of Kosovo Peace Plan," AP News.
  • "Russia envoy wants Yugoslavia to accept plan," BBC News.
  • "Chernomyrdin: 'Most important is return to negotiating table'," ITAR-TASS.
  • "Opposition increasing to Milosevic's handling of Kosovo crisis," US State Department.
  • "500 Serb soldiers desert in Kosovo," US State Department.
  • "Krusevac protests continue for second day," independent newspaper Glas Javnosti.
  • "Yugoslav opposition leader calls for peaceful protests," Austrian radio.