BOMBING WEEK - Royal New Zealand Air Force

www.airforce.mil.nz
AFN69, APRIL 06
WN 06-0089-03
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
THE KOSOVO ISSUE
2006 is expected to be a big year for
the Province of Kosovo. Finally, after
5 years of administration by the United
Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK),
negotiations will take place, led by UN
Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, between
Kosovo and Serbia in order to decide the
final status of the Province.
Kosovo, a province of Serbia and
part of the former Yugoslavia has been
attempting to gain independence for the
past 30 years. In 1974, under President Tito, Kosovo was granted
full autonomy but the large Albanian population (90%) of the
region fought hard for republic status. In 1989 Slobodan Miloševic
brought an end to Kosovo’s autonomy, placing it under ‘de facto’
military occupation.
The focus within the region shifted away from Kosovo in the early
1990s so in 1996, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was formed and
conflicts between the KLA and the Serb police in Kosovo emerged.
The KLA began to gain popularity and the Serb police responded by
beginning to crack down on the KLA and suspected sympathisers.
In March 1998, the Serb police murdered 53 members of a family
called Jashari, which they claimed were a terrorist organisation.
Their leader, Adem Jeshari was among the dead, and the KLA used
the attack to their advantage and made Jeshari a martyr.
By the beginning of 1999 reports of massive ethnic cleansing in
Kosovo began to surface. After the discoveries of the violence, the
USA and other allies threatened a NATO led military operation to
ensure peace in the region. Milosevic responded by strategically
placing Serbian forces in Kosovo and starting a massive deportation
campaign.
NATO launched Operation Allied Force on March 24 in an attempt
to destroy the military forces that Miloševic was using to destroy
the Albanian population in Kosovo. The bombing lasted until June
10. NATO ground forces entered Kosovo and began to ensure the
safe return of the refugees who’d fled Kosovo. It was estimated
that 850,000 people were forcibly expelled from Kosovo and up to
10,000 people had been killed.
At the completion of the bombing campaign, the UN formed UNMIK
which was mandated by the UN Security Council (under resolution
1244) to; perform basic civilian administrative functions; promote
the establishment of substantial autonomy and self-government in
Kosovo; facilitate a political process to determine Kosovo’s future
status; co-ordinate humanitarian and disaster relief of all international
agencies; support the reconstruction of key infrastructure;
maintain civil law and order; promote human rights; and assure the
safe and unimpeded return of all refugees and displaced persons to
their homes in Kosovo.
And now, after 6 years of rebuilding infrastructure and making
progress towards achieving a series of international standards
regarding economy, political process, justice and law systems and
improving on their human rights, the population of Kosovo hope
that 2006 will finally bring a resolution to the question of the status
of Kosovo.
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