BosNet Article:Peace In Kosova at What Price?
Steve Albert
B o s N e t -May 7, 1999
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National Albanian American Council
1899 L Street, N.W., Suite 1130, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 955-1428 Fax: (202) 955-1429
Email: NAA...@aol.com
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May 7, 1999
PEACE IN KOSOVA AT WHAT PRICE?
Washington – In response to the G8 statement of May 6th on Kosova, the
National Albanian American Council issued the following statement:
President Clinton yesterday in Germany told Kosovar refugees that "You will
go home again in safety and in freedom." Although we appreciate the
importance of securing Russian acceptance of an international military
peacekeeping force in Kosova, the demands of the G8 countries as reflected in
yesterday’s statement are not enough to ensure either the safety or freedom
of the Albanians of Kosova.
Over the past month and a half, Serb forces have committed unspeakable acts
of murder, rape, and forced deportation. Such acts of violence are the
culmination not only of ten years of a deeply repressive regime, but also of
a century of ethnic cleansing and state sanctioned violence by Serbs against
Albanians. Moreover, Serbia is responsible for four wars in this decade
alone, and continues to pose a threat to regional stability.
President Clinton and our NATO allies have correctly understood the gravity
of Serbia’s crimes in Kosova. The President was right when he told a group
of Albanian-Americans during a White House meeting on March 31, "we cannot
lose this; we must win" the war against Serbia. Unfortunately, NATO thus far
has focused more on punishing Serbia for its actions in Kosova, instead of
winning the war. Albanians fear that, because NATO is frantically seeking a
diplomatic solution to the conflict, it will make concessions to Serbia that
will sow the seeds of continued repression in Kosova and a future war.
To secure true peace and security in the Kosova and the Balkans, NATO must
achieve the following short-term goals:
· All Serb Military, Paramilitary, and Police Forces Must Withdraw From All
of Kosova: Serbia’s military campaign makes it clear that Albanians will not
be safe in Kosova as long as there are Serb military or police forces there.
Moreover, because Serbia has confiscated the identity papers of those
Albanians it forced out of Kosova and has systematically destroyed other
public documents, Serbs cannot take part in any way in the repatriation of
Albanians to Kosova. NATO must stick to its previous demand that all Serb
forces must retreat from Kosova, otherwise there will be no peace or safety
in Kosova.
· Kosova Must Not be Partitioned Either by Design or Practice: Serbia's dream
as always been to cleanse Kosova of its Albanian population. Serbia's
present murderous campaign is an effort to achieve that goal. NATO must not
allow Serbia to maintain control over or to prevent the return of Albanians
to any part of Kosova. Russia also must not be allowed to achieve for Serbia
a de facto partition of Kosova. Any partition of Kosova will result in a
future war there and will put in doubt the borders of neighboring countries,
as well.
· NATO Troops Must Serve as Peacekeepers; Albanians, and Not the United
Nations, Must Assume Administrative Control Over Kosova: Albanians do not
trust any other institution besides NATO to keep the peace in Kosova.
Therefore, NATO troops must serve as the peacekeepers in Kosova. Moreover,
UN administration over Kosova would give Russia, Serbia's staunch ally and
apologist, the ability to secure for Serbia continued control over Kosova.
Instead, NATO and the OSCE should administer Kosova in the short term in
preparation for elections there once the return of all the Kosovar refugees
has been achieved.
· NATO Must Secure the Consent of the Kosovar Leadership Before Entering into
Any Agreement on Kosova: Neither NATO nor any one party or individual can
alone approve an agreement on behalf of the Kosovars. NATO correctly worked
with the full Kosovar leadership in Rambouillet and Paris when attempting to
secure a peace accord. This same delegation must now be intimately involved
again in any agreement that would end NATO’s military mission in Kosova.
· The Kosova Liberation Army Must be Made a Partner in Kosova: Given the
current massacre in Kosova, Albanians must be able to defend themselves in
the future. The Kosova Liberation Army ("KLA") has the overwhelming support
of the people of Kosova and played a constructive role during the peace
negotiations and during the current conflict. The KLA should be made a
partner in providing security in Kosova and in helping to return the
Albanians to their homes.
The President told a group of Albanian-Americans on March 31, "I think that
we cannot impose a political solution on the people of Kosova." Given the
misery and mayhem caused by Serbs throughout this century and especially in
the last year, the Kosovar Albanians ultimately must decide their own future
through a referendum to be held within Kosova on a date certain. Securing
such a referendum should be one of the primary goals of the current
negotiations over the fate of Kosova.
Additionally, there cannot be peace in Kosova without justice. Those
individuals, including Slobodan Milosevic himself, who committed or ordered
others to commit crimes against humanity, must be brought to justice. NATO
must recommit itself publicly to this goal.
Albanians the world over support NATO's mission in Kosova. Now NATO must
complete that mission by securing a lasting peace in the region.
###CONTACT: Aferdita Rakipi
(202) 955-1428
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