Historical United Nations: Kosovo Crisis

Transcription

1 Historical United Nations: Kosovo Crisis Topic A: Escalating Tensions in Kosovo Chairs: Annie Fu & Jacob Skaggs Moderator: Alexis Wache Vice Chairs: Parth Dalal, Nadya Teneva April 10-13, 2014 Fu & Skaggs 1

2 Escalating Tensions in Kosovo Introduction: The year is 1997 and the powder keg that is the Balkans is nearly ready to explode. In the fallout of the separation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Croatia have each had their pleas for diplomatic sovereignty recognized globally, and each has been admitted to the United Nations 1. Ethnic Albanians in the Kosovo region have voted to declare independence from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, yet unlike the other three major break away nations from the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo has not received widespread diplomatic recognition 2. Under the leadership of Kosovo s elected yet unofficial President Ibrahim Rugova s shadow government, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) has formed in response to Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic s alleged oppression of Albanians residing in the Kosovo region 3. This oppression includes changes in the Serbian constitution depleting the relative autonomy that Kosovo had previously enjoyed, reports of ethnic cleansing, putting tens of thousands of Albanians in the Kosovo region out of work, and repressing Albanian cultural activities 4. The enforcement of such policies over the past decades has brought tensions in the Kosovo region to a boiling point. Kosovo s unofficial president Rugova has requested the deployment of UN Peacekeeper troops in Kosovo, but no such deployment has occurred and although Rugova is a pacifist, the Kosovo Liberation Army has taken violent measures to fight back against the Serbian police force. 1 Brittanica. 1/25/14. 2 PBS, War in Europe. 3 PBS, War in Europe. 4 Jautz, Minorities Leaving Yugoslav Province Dominated by Albanians, 1. Fu & Skaggs 2

3 While some view this Kosovo Liberation Army as a group of freedom fighters, others see them as a common terrorist group 5. Recently, violence in the Kosovo region has escalated as the Serbian police have tightened their grip on Kosovo, and in response the Kosovo Liberation Army has increased the frequency and intensity of its attacks. You are tasked with taking preventative measures to avoid further escalation of the ongoing crisis in Kosovo. Act swiftly, as time is of the essence. Events in this committee will occur on a rolling basis, meaning that there may be consequences for inaction if a resolution is not reached. As the Disarmament and International Security Committee of the United Nations you do not have the direct power to deploy peacekeeper troops, but you may recommend their use, and if the United Nations Security Council fails to deploy troops in an emergency situation, you will be granted this power 6. 5 Timeline: Kosovo. 6 Role of the General Assembly. United Nations Peacekeeping. Fu & Skaggs 3

4 Background and Current Situation: Kosovo: A brief history One of the newest countries on the world stage, Kosovo has existed since 1974 as an autonomous province of first Yugoslavia and more recently of Serbia. Kosovo was incorporated into Serbia in the 13 th century. Toward the end of the next century, following the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, Serbia, including Kosovo, was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. Over the next centuries, Turks and Albanians moved into Kosovo and by the 19 th century Serbians had become a minority segment of the population. The Ottoman Empire lost control of Serbia and Kosovo in 1912 and by the end of the decade no longer existed. Serbia existed in multiple national alignments until WWII when in 1946 it was incorporated into the Federal People s Republic of Yugoslavia. From 1945 until 1990 Kosovo enjoyed autonomous status within the Socialist Republic of Serbia. Kosovo was an Autonomous Region until the passage of a new Yugoslav constitution in 1963, when it became an Autonomous Province. In the late 1960s, Kosovo Albanians were given the right to fly a flag bearing the Albanian national emblem. The Albanian share of the industrial and professional workforce, management structures, League of Communists, and police force increased considerably in the period after The improved position of Albanians in Kosovo led to increasingly strong demand for the of Kosovo s status to that of a republic within the Yugoslav Federation. The culmination of these demands came in massive student demonstrations less than one year after Tito s death in The strong suppression of these demonstrations and the efforts of Albanian communists to restore order quieted neither the demands of increasingly radical Albanians nor the province s Serbs. The situation of Serbs in Kosovo became a national cause célèbre in 1986 as the Serbian Academy of Arts and Fu & Skaggs 4

5 Sciences drafted a memorandum that criticized Serbia s socialist politicians for allowing the genocide of Serbs in Kosovo and leading Serbia to its greatest defeat in history. In 1989, during the death throes of the Communist government, Slobodan Milošević was elected president of Serbia on a nationalist platform. Milošević manipulated Serb fears over Kosovo in support of his efforts to gain power throughout the Yugoslav federation and then to create the conditions for the wars that plagued Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo throughout the 1990s.Yugoslavia disintegrated in In its last stages, it revoked the autonomous status for Kosovo. 7 The Serbian constitution of 1990 eliminated Kosovo s autonomy, and the newly established administration systematically removed Albanians from the mass media, government and administration, business, and management, as well as from the health and education systems. Legislation was passed forbidding the sale of property to Albanians. This repression led many thousands of Albanians to emigrate from Kosovo and Albanians remaining to boycott participation in all aspects of official social and political life. They organized a nonviolent parallel political system that was led by the Democratic League of Kosovo. Its leader, Ibrahim Rugova, was overwhelmingly elected president in His policy of passive resistance, however, came at the cost of increasing frustration among Kosovo s Albanian population. On 22 April 1996, four attacks on Serbian security personnel were carried out almost simultaneously in several parts of Kosovo. A hitherto- 7 Melton, J. Gordon. Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. Ed. J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Jan Europe Since 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of War and Reconstruction. Ed. John Merriman and Jay Winter. Vol. 3. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Jan Fu & Skaggs 5

6 unknown organization calling itself the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) subsequently claimed responsibility. KLA vs. the Serbian Government The KLA was originally composed of a few hundred Albanian Muslim veterans of the Bosian war. It made its first public statement on Decemeber 1, 1997, during a funeral service for an Albanian teacher killed by Serbian police. The speech was a call to arms outlining the KLA s position and objectives. (Prior to this appearnce, some observers suspected that the KLA was actually a Serbian tool an in direct way of stirring up ancient ethnic tensions that would alow Milosovic to move against Kosovo s Albanian population.) The KLA s stated objectives were the secession of Kosovo from Serbia and the eventual creation of a Greater Albania, encompassing Kosovo, Albania, and the ethnic Albanian minority of neighboring Macedonian. The Yugoslav government considered the KLA to be terrorists and insurgents who indiscriminately attacked police and civilians, while most Albanians saw the KLA as freedom fighters. The KLA found great moral and financial support among the Albanian diaspora: The 1997 armed uprisings in Albania put into circulation over 700,000 weapons, many of which found their way to Kosovo. 9 As the KLA became better armed, its attacks became more effective; the Serbian president of the University of Pristina, Kosovo s capital, narrowly escaped assassination in January In October, violence escalated as Serbian security forces clamped down further on resistance and the KLA stepped up its attacks. The Serbian government began a crackdown against the Kosovo Albanian population. After KLA attack on police, Serb security forces massacre 58 people of the Jashari family in the village of 9 Bideleux, R. (1998). Kosovo's Conflict. History Today, 48(11). Fu & Skaggs 6

7 Prekaz, prefacing nine months of bombings and burnings of villages, as well as disappearances and massacres of Kosovar civilians by the FRY. In the following weeks, tens of thousands rallied in Pristina to protest the massacre, while Serbs responded with counter-demonstrations. Throughout that year, the KLA escalated its attacks and Serbia followed suit with reprisals. As Milosevic s ethnic cleansing campaign progressed, over 200,000 ethnic Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo. 10 Not only did Serbian repression arouse greater sympathy among Kosovars for the KLA, but also the violence in Kosovo and attacks on ethnic Serbs there increased support for Milosevic in the FRY. International Attempts The mounting refugee crisis began to attract serious international attention. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the UN Security Council, and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) considered in 1998 what had occurred and what was to be done. In February 1998, U.S. President Bill Clinton s special envoy to the Balkans condemned both the actions of Serb government and of the KLA, and described the KLA as, without any questions, a terrorist group 11, which some observers say Milosevic interpreted as a green light to continue repression in March. On March 31 st, UN Security Council resolution 1160 took a similar stance, but also condemned Yugoslavia s excessive use of force, imposed economic sanctions, and banned arms sales to Serbia. 10 "Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook Ed. Karen Ellicott. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Jan Terrorist Groups and Political Legitimacy. Council on Foreign Relations. Fu & Skaggs 7

8 In May 31, 20 Kosovar Albanians were killed in retaliation for death of a Serb policeman near Glogovac. The next day, Rugova met UN Sec. Gen Kofi Annan and requested UN/NATO intervention. 12 Diplomatic efforts by the UN sponsored Contact Group led to an agreement between the U.S. Special Envoy and FRY President Milosevic, which threatened with NATO bombardment, in October This agreement authorized the introduction of unarmed OSCE monitors and the withdrawal of most of the FRY troops (as called for in UNSC Resolution 1199 on September 23, 1998). This de-escalation allowed many Kosovars to go home, and it did reduce the level of violence temporarily. However, KLA units took advantage of the lull in fighting to reestablish their control of many positions vacated by the redeployed Serbian troops. Violence escalated again in December 1998 after Serbian forces reentered the province. 13 In February 1999, the allied governments of NATO forced the Serbian government and the KLA into truce negotiations in Rambouillet, France. The KLA was prevailed upon to sign the treaty, but the Serbian government refused. During the negotiations, the international community had hoped to reestablish Kosovo s autonomy, but not full independence, as it was believed an independent Kosovo would tend to destabilize the entire region and lead to further war. 14 Following the failure of the diplomatic effort, Clinton, on March 24, 1999, ordered an air assault on Serbian positions in Kosovo and Serbia proper Encyclopedia of U.S. National Security. Ed. Richard J. Samuels. Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Reference, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Jan Encyclopedia of Terrorism. Ed. Harvey W. Kushner. Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Reference, Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Jan Fu & Skaggs 8

9 Bloc Positions: Intervene Siding with Kosovo: This bloc position believes that the proper course of action would involve intervening in the Kosovar region before Serbian oppression of ethnic Albanians gets too out of control and escalates to violence. Those making up this position would include those with a history of supporting victims of genocide, providing relief to refugees, or pressuring other members of the United Nations to support intervention in genocide situations. Surrounding nations may also be sympathetic to Kosovo s cause as they may feel internal pressure from citizens within their borders whose citizens either feel attachment to those in the nation, are containing a significant population of ethnic Albanians, or are informed on the crisis through local media coverage. Intervene Siding with Serbia This position believes that the unwarranted attacks made by the terrorist Kosovo Liberation Army are a threat to national security in Serbia. This position consists of nations with oppressed ethnic populations within their borders (e.g. Rroma in many European nations, Hungarian citizens in Romania), as well as nations with strong friendship or economic ties to either Serbia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia who would not benefit from a weakened Serbian nation. Promote Passivity Nations falling in this position believe that as of yet the violence in Kosovo is relatively insignificant and does not amount to an international crisis deserving of intervention. Countries also may fall in this category if they have a history of taking a lukewarm approach to intervening in genocide in other nations. A country may also fall into this bloc if they house an ethnic minority Fu & Skaggs 9

10 that hopes to secede and would not wish to encourage their protests by showing support for Kosovo, yet does not feel compelled to support Serbia. Questions to Consider: Below is a list of questions that each delegate should research to develop a complex position that satisfies the queries below and goes beyond. These are a starting point, not a list of everything you should know. 1. Does your country have a history of oppressing ethnic minorities? 2. Does your country hold a region hostage containing a peoples or ethnic minority who wish to secede? 3. Does your nation have economic ties to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or Serbia? 4. Might violence in Kosovo affect your nation or inspire a rebel group within your borders? 5. Should the UN recognize Kosovo as a sovereign nation? 6. Should the UN Security Council send Peacekeeping troops to avert violence in the region? 7. Should the Kosovo Liberation Army be considered a terrorist group? 8. Can Slobodan Milosevic s governing of the Kosovo region be considered unlawful or encouraging ethnic cleansing? 9. Should Ibrahim Rugova be considered responsible for Kosovar violence? 10. Does this violence equate to an international issue worthy of the UN s attention? Fu & Skaggs 10

11 Recommended Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica PBS Frontline, War in Europe BBC, Timeline, Kosovo Kosovo.net News Archive (features articles from Kosovo during Kosovo crisis) Encyclopedia of US National Security Encyclopedia of Terrorism Bidelieux, Kosovo s Conflict, History Today Europe Since 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of War and Reconstruction Fu & Skaggs 11

12 Bibliography: Bideleux, Robert. "Kosovo's Conflict." History Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Feb < Britannica. "Encyclopedia Britannica Online." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 5 Feb < Ellicott, Karen. Countries of the world and their leaders yearbook Detroit, Mich.: Gale, Print. Jautz, Kenneth. "Minorities Leaving Yugoslav Province Dominated by Albanians." Associated Press [Pristina, Yugoslavia] 17 Oct. 1981, Afternoon ed., sec. International News: 1. Print. Kushner, Harvey W.. Encyclopedia of terrorism. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, Print. Melton, J. Gordon, and Martin Baumann. Religions of the world: a comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, Print. Merriman, John M., and J. M. Winter. Europe since 1914: encyclopedia of the age of war and reconstruction. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons/Thomson Gale, Print. Moran, Michael. "Terrorist Groups and Political Legitimacy." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 16 Mar Web. 6 Feb < PBS, Frontline. "War in Europe." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 6 Feb < "Role of the General Assembly. United Nations Peacekeeping." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 6 Feb < Samuels Jr., Richard J. Encyclopedia of U.S. National Security Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks, CA: Gale Virtual Reference Library, Print. Fu & Skaggs 12

13 "Timeline: Kosovo." BBC News. BBC, 24 Jan Web. 6 Feb < Fu & Skaggs 13