Belgrade’s victory was little more than the combined failure of the Contact Group and the KLA. But Milosevic will continue to exploit internal frictions among both to undermine the peace process.
In the end, fudge won. After an intensive two-week session enduring ‘chateau fever’, and some serious last-minute tension, Serbian and Albanian negotiating parties at the Kosovo talks in France came to a "provisional understanding" on the outlines of a de
BBC war reporter turned politician Martin Bell MP, testifies on behalf of General Tihomir Blaskic who also took to the stand last week as the 145th witness in this marathon trial.
General Blaskic, charged as the HVO commander in Central Bosnia with 20 counts of crimes against humanity, apologised for the fact that he was unable to prevent massacres in and around the village of Ahmici.
The new governing coalition and the lame-duck presidential administration in Macedonia have settled into open warfare, and recent provocations over Kosovo and other issues led by President Gligorov risk opening serious rifts between Macedonian and Albania
The visit of Serbian leader Milan Milutinovic to the Paris talks has been widely reported as an opportunity to reiterate hard-line positions. But whatever the outcome, Milosevic’s puppet actually helped the talks overcome some key initial obstacles.
With all eyes on France, few in Kosovo are paying attention to the continuing violence and kidnappings. Yet while the KLA stays ready for fresh fighting if the talks fail, the OSCE verifiers prepares to go.
Pristina hopes for a settlement. But scepticism over the West’s inconsistency and fear of the Serbs’ arrogant behaviour ensure that no one in Kosovo will be surprised if the talks end in failure.
Tribunal Update 112: Last Week in The Hague (8-14 February, 1999)
