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Timetable of the conflicts in Kosovo
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| 1918 |
After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I Kosovo becomes part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. |
| 1929 |
The country becomes monarchy, its regions are divided without regard to racial composition and its name is changed to Yugoslavia. |
| 1941 |
The German "Reichswehr" invades in April, and the country is later occupied by Italians, Hungarians and Bulgarians. |
| 1945 |
Josip Broz Tito founds the communist state of Yugoslavia. Serbia becomes part of one of six republics. Kosovo becomes an autonomos region within the Republic of Serbia. |
| 1974 |
The revised Yugoslavian constitution grants Kosovo the status of an autonomous province within Serbia. The Albanians, most of whom are Muslim, institute Albanian-language schools and observe Islamic holidays. |
| 1980 |
Yugoslavian leader Marshal Josip Broz Tito dies. |
| March/ April 1981 |
Student protests in the province capital Pristina and other cities caused by ethnic and social tensions between Albanians and the Serbian minority. The Kosovars call for an independent republic within Yugoslavia. At disturbances nine people are killed, several hundred hurt. Many students are arrested. The government in Belgrade sends troops to the area and declares the martial law for short time. |
| 1987 |
Slobodan Milosevic rises to power in Yugoslavia, strengthing Serbian nationalism while Albanian civil rights continue to erode. |
| February 1989 |
After strikes and mass demonstrations of Albanians Belgrade declares the state of emergency in Kosovo. |
| March 1989 |
Slobodan Milosevic cancels the autonomy of the province Kosovo. A modification of the constitution of the Serbian Republic under President Slobodan Milosevic cancels the autonomy status of Kosovo. During streetfights between demonstrators and the police, more than 20 people die. |
| June 1989 |
More than one million people celebrate the 600. anniversary of the battle in the blackbird field (Kosovo). Serbian president Milosevic proclaims: "Today we once again are fighting and we face new confrontations." Thereafter tensions between the ethnic Albaninans and the Serbs considerably escalating. |
| June 1990 |
The Yugoslav government sends troops, tanks, combat aircraft and 2000 further policemen to Kosovo. The autonomy status of Kosovo is cancelled, the Kosovar authorities and institutions are replaced by Serbian ones. |
| July 1990 |
Before the Parliament Building in Pristina the Kosovar representatives declare the independence of the Republic Kosova but without international recognition. Belgrade reacts with the dissolution of the regional parliament. The strongest political movement is the Democratic League Kosovo under Ibrahim Rugova (LDK). |
| September 1990 |
In the new Serbian constitution the autonomy of the Kosov is not restored. |
| September 1991 |
In a referendum more than 90 percent of the Kosovo Albanians vote for an independent republic which is only recognized by Albania. |
| May 1992 |
: Kosovo Albanians elect a parliament under the presidency of Ibrahim Rugova. |
| December 1995 |
The Dayton peace agreement to end the Bosnian War is signed by leaders of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia. NATO and other especially Russian troops are deployed to secure the implementation of the accord. |
| April 1996 |
The Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) claims responsible for different bomb attacks. |
| May 1996 |
The Bosnia Contact Group calls for more extensive autonomy for the Kosovar people within the Former Yugoslavia. |
| 1997 |
The elections for the Serbian parliament are boycotted by the Kosovo Albanians. Violent clashes between Kosovo Albanians and Serbian policemen are the result. |
| 1998 |
The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA or UCK), a small militant group, begins killing Serbian policemen and others who collaborate with the Serbs. They also establish large areas where they are in control. |
| February 1998 |
Milosevic sends troops into the areas controlled by the UCK, destroying property and killing 80 Kosovars, at least 30 of them women, children and elderly men. The killing provokes riots in Pristina, the Kosovar capital and turns the conflict into a guerrilla war and raises again the specter of ethnic cleansings by the Serb authorities. |
| February 28th 1998 |
Bloody Conflict between the Serbian policemen and the UCK. |
| April 1998 |
UN Secrutiy Coucil Resolution concerning the Kosovo Crisis. |
| June 1998 |
First Meeting between the UCK and US-envoy Richard Hoolbroke and constitution of the Kosovo Contact Group (France, Russia, USA, Great Britian, Italy and Germany). |
| July 1998 |
Milosevic wants to resume the dialog with the Kosovo Albanians without any participation of the UCK. Heavy fights between Serbian army and the UCK. The Kosovo parliament recognizes the UCK as the legitimate army. Almost 200 people die at fights in Orahovac and Djeravica.. The UCK declares that it controls almost 40 percent of Kosovo. A Serb offensive sets an end to most UCK acticivities. |
| August 1998 |
More than 200.000 Kosovars are driven from. The US administration threatens Belgrade with military strikes. NATO prepares for a military intervention including a manoeuver with 1700 soldiers from 14 states in Albania. |
| September 1998 |
Serb forces attack areas in central Kosovo, where 22 Albanians are found massacred. |
| September 23th 1998 |
UN Security Council calls for immediate cease-fire and political dialogue.
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| September 29th 1998 |
SPD and Bündnis90/Die Grünen win the federal elections to the German Bundestag. |
| October 1998 |
NATO allies authorize airstrikes against Serb military targets. After talks with Holbrooke Milosevic withdraws his troops from the Kosovo and agrees to allow 2,000 unarmed OSCE-monitors to verify compliance. |
| October 16th 1998 |
After the consent of the German Government the German Bundestag agrees to the NATO activation order on limited action against Former Yugoslavia under participation of the German Bundeswehr. |
| October 24th 1998 |
UN Security Council Resolution on the Kosovo Crisis. |
| October 27th 1998 |
Gerhard Schröder becomes new German chancellor, Joseph Fischer minister for foreign affair. |
| November 19th 1998 |
The German Bundestag agrees in general to a NATO operation saving the OSCE monitors in Kosovo. |
| October/ December 1998 |
U.S. envoy Christopher Hill starts a mission for a new solution which is overshadowed by continuing daily violence. |
| December 1998 |
Rising number of victims of both sides caused by foughts and bomb attacks. |
| January 15th 1999 |
Massacre on 45 Civilians in Racak, Kosovo which is called by german. |
| January 29th 1999 |
After ongoing fights Western allies demand both sides to attend. |
| February 6th-17th 1999 |
First talks between the Serbs and Kosovo Albanians in Rambouillet near Paris. The USA and Germany send further troops and fighter planes to the region. |
| February 23th 1999 |
Interim Agreement for Peace and Self-Government in Kosovo in Rambouillet. |
| February/ March 1999 |
Former Yugoslavian forces sweep through Macedonian border region while peacekeeping mission, bombard UCK positions in the north where thousands of NATO forces gather for a possible. Rebels launch several attacks on Serbs. |
| March 8th 1999 |
Unsuccessful negotiations between the Serbian President Milosevic and ther German Foreign Minister Fischer. |
| March 13th 1999 |
A series of daytime bombings kill seven people and injures dozens, all ethnic Albanians, in the government-held towns of Kosovska Mitrovica and Podujevo; both sides accuse eachother. |
| March 15th 1999 |
Talks resume in Paris and the Kosovo Albanians confirm to international officials that they are ready to sign the peace deal unilaterally. |
| March 18th 1999 |
The Kosovo Albanians sign the peace deal proposed by the contact group. Due to the planed implementation of an international peace protection Yugoslavia refuses. |
| March 19th 1999 |
Talks suspended. |
| March 20th 1999 |
International OSCE peace monitors leave Kosovo, as Yugoslav forces launch a new offensive against rebels. NATO aircraft and ships are prepared for possible bombardments. |
| March 22th 1999 |
Special envoy Holbrook arrives in Belgrade on a last-ditch bid to convince Milosevic to accept the accord. |
| March 23th 1999 |
Serb parliament solidly rejects NATO demands to send peacekeeping troops into Kosovo. Holbrook ends his mission, saying Milosevic has refused to agree to a plan for autonomy for Kosovo, secured by NATO troops. The failure of diplomacy opens the way for NATO airstrikes. NATO authorizes airstrikes. Yugoslavia declares state of emergency -- its first since World War II. |
| March 24th 1999 |
NATO launches airstrikes. |
| March 26th 1999 |
Speech to the German Nation of the German Chancellor stressing the need for the first German military intervention after World War II which became necessary after all diplomatic measured failed. |
| March 29th 1999 |
Statement of the German Chancellor Schröder on the beginning attacks on Yugoslavia. |
| April 6th 1999 |
Yugoslavia declares a unilaterally truce, but it is not enough for the NATO allies. The German Foreign Minister Fischer propose a stability pact for south-eastern europe. |
| April 8th 1999 |
EU Special Council Meeting on Kosovo Crisis underpins the NATO position and decides to increase humanitarian aid for the Kosovo refugees. |
| April 14th 1999 |
Informal Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union in Brussels on the Kosovo Crisis in presence of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. |
| April 15th 1999 |
Debate on Kosovo Crises on German Bundestag. |
| April 16th 1999 |
G8 proposal for a new peace agreement based on the initiative of the German Foreign Minister Fischer. |
| April 22th 1999 |
: Speech of Minister Fischer in the German Bundestag on the ocassion of the 50th anniversary of the NATO. |
| April 23/24th 1999 |
Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of North Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. |
| April 26th 1999 |
EU Council in Luxembourg "expressed its strong and continuing support for maximum pressure (..) on Milosevic and his regime". |
| April 28th 1999 |
The German Defense Minister, Rudolf Scharping, meets the Russian Foreign Minister Sergejew and Victor Tschernomyrdin in Moscow. |
| May 6th 1999 |
G8 Special meeting on Kosovo Crisis in Bonn. |
| May 8th 1999 |
The Chinese Embassy in Belgrad is bombed accidentally by NATO Subsequently, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder Zhu Rongji in Peking apologizing for the bomb attack. |
| May 13th 1999 |
The party conference of "Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen" underlines the position of Fischer and demands a limited stop of the military strike. |
| May 17th 1999 |
Conclusions of the EU Foreign Minister Meeting on Kosovo. Talks of the German Chancellor Schröder with the Finnish President Ahtisaari in Helsinki and with the Italian Prime Minister DŽAlema in Bari. |
| May 18th 1999 |
The German Chancellor Schröder underlines that Germany will not send troops to the Kosovo. Further Meetings with the Italian Prime Minister DŽAlema in Bari in presence of the German foreign Minister Fischer. |
| May 19th 1999 |
Meeting of the political directors of G8 in Bonn. |
| May 20-22th 1999 |
The United Nations Needs Assessment Mission visits Kosovo and reports on the situation of the refugees. |
| May 27th 1999 |
President Milosevic and four other senior fry officials indicted for murder, persecution and deportation in Kosovo by the International Criminal Tribune for the Former Yugoslavia. Preparation conference for a stability pact for South-Eastern Europe in Bonn. |
| May 31th 1999 |
The Former Yugoslavian Government has agreed to the G8 proposal. |
| June 1st 1999 |
The German Foreign Minister Fischer receives a letter from the Yugoslavian government in which President Milosevic said he was ready to withdraw forces from Kosovo and accept a UN presence in the Serbian province. |
| June 3rd 1999 |
The Serbian Parliament approves a Peace Interim Agreement based on the G 8 purposal. |
| June 3rd/4th 1999 |
EU Council Summit in Cologne. Peace deal between the EU special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, the Russian special envoy Viktor Tschernormyrdin and President Milosevic. |
| June 5th 1999 |
Military Meeting between representatives of the NATO and the Government of the Former Yugoslavia. |
| Juune 6th 1999 |
Cancelation of the above talks without any results. |
| June 7th 1999 |
G 8 Foreign Minister Meeting in Bonn. The German Governmnet decides to increase the number of troops will be employed in the Kosovo peacer mission from 6.000 to 8.500. |
| June 8th 1999 |
G 8 Foreign Minister Meeting in Cologne reach an agreement on a draft resolution for the UN Security Council . EU special envoy Ahtisaari meets the Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan in Peking. Special plenary sitting of the German Bundestag on the Kosovo Crisis. |
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