The Potential for a U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Kos Essay Example

portrays Milosevic as a "Hitler" in order to justify the bombing and even assert that Clinton is orchestrating a fabricated war. According to Alexander, this war lacks authenticity because it relies on opinion polls and constantly changing objectives decided upon by a committee of 19 nations. Furthermore, he highlights that deploying ground troops was never considered, further supporting claims of its lack of genuineness. Other criticisms align with the Wag the Dog theory which suggests using war as a distraction from presidential scandals. The events of the Kosovo crisis coincided with Clinton's impeachment trial, which quickly lost public attention. This parallel is intriguing and suggests potential connections between the two situations. Alexander argues against the feasibility of the war's objectives, including Serbian forces' withdrawal, Kosovars returning home, establishing a peacekeeping force, and granting autonomy for Kosovo within Serbia.The text explores various aspects of the conflict such as Serbian forces' withdrawal,Kosovars returning home ,establishing apiecekeeping force,and granting autonomy forKosovo within SerbiaDespite the criticisms and justifications surrounding this war, it is acknowledged that it has started and continues to unfold. The only way to change the situation is through a peace agreement or retreat from either party involved. On March 24, 1999, NATO initiated air strikes on over 40 Serb locations, which resulted in civilian casualties. There were reports of further atrocities committed by the Serbs and Russia called for a halt to the air strikes, causing uncertainty about Yugoslavia's readiness for the conflict. Anti-war demonstrations took place worldwide and Russia's Prime Minister met with Milosevic on March 30th in Belgrade. As a result of the attacks, there was a mass exodus from Kosovo. Initially three soldiers

were reported missing on March 31st but they were shown as prisoners of war on television the following day. Jessie Jackson facilitated their release, leading to peace negotiations. There was hope that the bombings would stop after the release of prisoners, but NATO did not seize this opportunity and continued with the bombings. This conflict led to an increase in refugees from Kosovo, creating a global dilemma regarding their resettlement. On April 3rd, Macedonia refused to accept more refugees unless other European nations also provided refuge while Germany agreed promptly if other European countries did so as well. At the same time, the White House announced additional funds for refugee assistance.NATO responded by announcing plans to airlift and resettle 20,000 refugees in the United States.
Furthermore, plans were made to relocate 40,000 individuals in Germany and smaller numbers in Turkey, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Sweden, Austria, Greece, Canada, and Portugal (PG). The global community swiftly offered aid as the world watched a massive exodus and resettlement process unfold on television. Tragically, innocent lives continued to be lost amidst ongoing bombings and occasional accidents. On April 13th,NATO admitted accidentally bombing a passenger train which resulted in ten civilian fatalities. This incident drew criticism as it was evident that the targeted bridge was frequently used by trains potentially carrying innocent commuters.Another accident occurred shortly after causing the death of 64 refugees.NATO faced further scrutiny for its inability to differentiate between civilians and military factions.By mid-April,the U.N estimated that approximately 1000 new refugees were heading towards Macedonia.Germany proposed a one-day NATO cease-fire if Milosevic agreed to withdraw troops; however,this proposition was rejected.On April 23rd,Russian envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin met with Milosevic

and declared an important agreement for "international presence" in Kosovo.Nonetheless,the search for peace persisted.During President Clinton's discussion with the Russian envoy regarding diplomatic efforts,the U.S declined Yugoslavia's plea to halt bombing due to insufficient justification provided by the release of three captive men.Clinton expressed a willingness to pause bombing if troops were withdrawn on May 3rd, indicating a change in attitude from both sides. Despite facing criticism, the war initially led by the U.S., with support from Britain and NATO countries, saw Jesse Jackson negotiate prisoner release while Russia pursued a peaceful resolution. Clinton maintained a strong stance but became more flexible due to commitment of forces and previous unsuccessful negotiations that fueled harsh rhetoric.

Discussions about a future peacekeeping force began in May, and on May 5th, there was optimism surrounding the Russian-led diplomatic solution suggesting an "international body" should govern Kosovo after Yugoslav troop withdrawal. By May 7th, progress was made in U.S.-Russia peace negotiations, leading President Clinton to believe that a genuine peace process had started.

The United Nations intervened in the peace talks and assigned NATO and Russian troops a strong role in peacekeeping in Kosovo. However, the situation took a turn when an incident with potential international significance occurred accidentally or so it seemed at first glance. While initially perceived as a distraction from a sex scandal, some speculate that this incident was an effort to hide something more serious than just a sexual affair.One specific matter that has received limited attention is Chinagate. This involves allegations of Chinese money funding Clinton's campaign and the theft of important U.S. military secrets by the Chinese government. In the midst of this, the missile

attack on the Chinese embassy in Belgrade on May 8, 1999 was highly unusual. It resulted in three deaths and several injuries, causing dissatisfaction within the Chinese government.

Many argue that the explanation for the accident was intentionally weak due to its absurdity. The error occurred because an outdated map was mistakenly used, which did not show the embassy's location. However, reports indicate that a four-year-old map depicted an empty lot where the embassy stood, suggesting that such an incident could not have occurred. The question arises as to why they would bomb an empty lot and why they did not notice the disparity between the map and reality.

NATO promptly apologized for the incident but provided no specifics, leading to protests in China that overshadowed peace talks. On May 9th, China declared a suspension of scheduled talks with unrelated ongoing war efforts with the U.S.. On May 10th, Yugoslavia partially withdrew troops from Kosovo; however, U.S officials deemed their actions unsatisfactory.

Tensions between China and U.S persisted as China demanded a halt to bombing campaigns before considering any peace plan from United Nations (UN).Chinese citizens' protests against the U.S. decreased, and on May 14th, NBC's Matt Lauer was finally permitted to broadcast from the Great Wall after his visit had been delayed due to the crisis. These events suggest a decrease in initial tension.
Defense Secretary William Cohen stated that NATO is demanding a complete withdrawal of troops and police from Kosovo, indicating potential for peace despite ongoing war. The involvement of the United Nations in the Kosovo crisis has changed over time, initially having a minimal role but recently becoming more engaged.
In mid-April, the head of the

United Nations put forward a plan suggesting that if Serbs withdrew, instead of NATO (PG), the U.N. could lead a peacekeeping force. This proposal raised questions regarding why the United Nations did not intervene sooner and its position in today's global order (Pisik A13). However, diplomats believe that once military operations conclude, the United Nations will play a crucial role in negotiating a resolution and securing peace in Kosovo (A13).
Countries like the U.S. perceive involving the U.N. as an opportunity for diplomatic efforts (Pisik A13). On May 6th, G-8 foreign ministers met in Bonn and reached an agreement to establish an interim administration for Kosovo with the aim of ensuring a peaceful and normal life for all Kosovars.

(Note: have been preserved.)The meeting at Petersberg guest house near Bonn was attended by ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy nations (Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Canada) as well as Russia. It was agreed in the meeting that any international civil and security forces deployed in Kosovo must receive approval and adoption from the United Nations. Due to divisions caused by NATO's bombing campaign, the United Nations has taken on a secondary role in this process. Despite their involvement in the political game surrounding these events, both Russia and China have refrained from expressing support for humanitarian efforts. Slovenian Ambassador Danilo Turk has expressed concern about how this division affects humanitarian issues (Pisik A13). While Russia's opposition is essential to the peace process, recent incidents have caused China's role to evolve and strain international relations. According to James Morrow of Stanford University, if a deal is reached, the United Nations has potential importance and should

find an appropriate platform for international approval and coordination involving Russia and China. He argues that utilizing the U.N. as a consensual organization would make logical sense (Pisik A13). John Hirsch, a U.S. diplomat acknowledges that considering Washington's inconsistent utilization of and respect for the U.N throughout history(A13), it is not surprising that there is currently an impasse.The U.N. has the ability to be used for political purposes and can effectively engage multiple nations in maintaining peace, particularly in troubled regions like Europe. It is important to note that this agreement proposes the first Kosovo peacekeeping force operating under a U.N. mandate ("G8 close" PG), although there may be delays in assuming control of the territory (PG). The U.N. has played a crucial role in past conflicts, such as supporting sanctions against South Africa and resolving conflicts in Namibia during the 1970s (Pisik A13). While there was disengagement in the 1980s, the U.N. re-engaged during the Gulf War of 1991 and subsequent peacekeeping efforts in Somalia, Rwanda, and Bosnia (A13). According to a spokesperson from the foreign ministry, it is essential for any peacekeeping force to have substantial powers and be strong and effective. However, First Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Averdeyev suggests that initially, international presence should primarily consist of civilians but may later include a security component. The presented plan emphasizes NATO's preference for a U.N. solution and comprehensive international peacekeeping force formation with expected NATO troop presence. Concerns have been raised about the size and weaponry of the U.N.'s presence.
The composition of troops in Kosovo, including NATO, Russian forces, and others, is uncertain and subject to negotiation. It is believed that the NATO

force should include American soldiers and have its own command structure and defense bases. Additionally, it must be strong enough to prevent another Serb attack until additional NATO reinforcements arrive. Slobodan Milosevic has received a message indicating his increasing isolation even by his Russian allies who are ready to abandon him unless he allows United Nations control over Kosovo with deployed troops for refugee repatriation. This communication emerged from the Bonn meeting and signifies a potential breakthrough as it demonstrates Russia's diminishing alliance with Milosevic.Despite ongoing peace talks, bombings in Kosovo continue, raising questions about Milosevic's thoughts and actions.Ultimately, the decision to stop the bombings rests with Milosevic himself, as he could have complied with NATO demands.On May 1st,in an interview conducted with Milosevic,the need for a U.N. protectorate was questioned when they had already accepted 2,000 verifiers from OSCE before the war began.Milosevic acknowledged that organizations like the International Red Cross and United Nations High Commission for Refugees had previously carried out substantial missions in Kosovo,revealing their willingness to engage with the international community.However, he also acknowledged cases where others exploited this openness by supporting KLA terrorists. While he found accepting a large U.N. mission in Kosovo to be acceptable, he made it explicit that an occupying force - whether NATO or U.N.-affiliated - would not be tolerated. When asked about accepting a U.N. peacekeeping force, he stated they would agree but only on specific conditions: without an army and armed solely for self-defense purposes; offensive weapons or anything resembling occupation were unacceptable to him. During the interview, Milosevic expressed his aversion to the term "peacekeeping force" and preferred referring to it as a

U.N. mission instead because he believed having forces present would lead to negative consequences such as damaging roads with tracked vehicles.They were open to any mission as long as it involved being guests and observing the peaceful situation rather than acting like an occupying force.The interviewer noted that their disagreement was related to semantics.Milosevic had no response but mentioned their preference for representatives from neutral countries instead of aggressive ones.Milosevic expressed willingness to accept troops from non-NATO European countries such as Ireland, as well as contingents from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.However, there is a clear discrepancy between what Milosevic finds acceptable and what the rest of the world demands.Despite these differences, ongoing dialogue offers hope for the future.The implementation of a U.N. peacekeeping force has been awaiting the right moment, with China and Russia showing signs of support. If Milosevic agrees and cooperates, the bombing can be halted and a U.N.-led mission can proceed. However, it is uncertain if this will occur, and lack of cooperation from Milosevic could have serious political consequences. The intentions of both China and Russia are unclear if an agreement is not reached soon, despite their desire for the bombing to stop. Furthermore, Russia's role is uncertain due to internal turmoil such as Yeltsin's impeachment trial. Despite global optimism, bombs continue to fall on Kosovo villages and refugees remain displaced [Source: McWethy et al., The Washington Times (May 7, 1999)]. The United Nations (U.N.) expressed satisfaction for having an opportunity to contribute towards finding a solution for Kosovo after ABC's Good Morning America announced a new peace plan on April 14, 1999 [Source: Pisik Betsy; "U.N welcomes chance to have

a voice in Kosovo solution." The Washington Times (May 7, 1999), A13].