This dossier is part of a larger effort to map and analyse the contours of Germany's Foreign Policy after unification. In the last six month there have been dramatic changes both within and around Germany, among them the change of government after sixteen years of a Christian Democratic-led coalition, the take-over of the EU-Presidency by the new government on January 1, 1999, the opening of NATO for three new members in Central Eastern Europe and the war in Kosovo. In preparing this dossier on "Germany in the Kosovo War", the Project on German Foreign Policy has drawn on its own resources, i.e. its link list and a seminar of the Chair of International Relations, as well as reports from governmental sources, think tanks, press and news services, non-governmental organizations. We encourage others to complement and criticise our study as new online resources become available.
What began in early 1998 as a conflict between the Serbian central government and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA or UCK) evolved in the summer of 1999 into a major war, entailing both a full-blown humanitarian emergency and a rapidly widening diplomatic crisis. Despite the large-scale air campaign of NATO against Former Yugoslavia, Serb military, paramilitary, and police forces have forcibly and systematically expelled more than two-third of the Kosovar population of 1.8 million from their homes in the last months. 700.000 Kosovars have fled to neighboring countries Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the Republic of Montenegro. There is uncertainty about the fate of the other Kosovar population, but there have been persistent reports about atrocities, forced population movements and famine within Kosovo.
Triggered by the Serbian government rejection of the peace plans of Rambouillet and Paris, NATO air forces started bombing military and infrastructure installations in Former Yugoslavia on March 24, 1999 without a mandate by the UN Security Council. After ten weeks of extensive bombing, Belgrade agreed to an interim settlement on June 3rd, based on principles developed by G-8 foreign ministers on May 6th, 1999. With a general agreement between NATO countries and Russia in place - both sides had been deeply divided over NATO's unilateral military action against former Yugoslavia - G-8 foreign ministers were able to reach a consensus on a UN SC draft resolution at a meeting in Cologne (June 8th). The draft resolution contains provisions for a return of all refugees, a sequenced withdrawal of all Serbian forces and the deployment of a robust international security force with NATO at its core. In a related development, NATO and senior Serbian military officials are to negotiate the details of the withdrawal of all Serbian forces and the introduction of the international security force (June 9th). The successful conclusion of military talks in Kumanovo, Macedonia and the imminent vote at the UN Security council in New York opens the prospect for a cessation of hostilities and a return of refugees to their homes.
This dossier provides a comprehensive collection of online resources on Germany's role in the Kosovo war, background information on the conflicts origins, analysis as to why the German government - for the first time since World War II - has introduced combat troops in anger, and information on recent diplomatic efforts for a peace settlement.
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