Clinton, Yeltsin: Kosovo remains in Yugoslavia, but have autonomy

In a series of long telephone and direct conversations, US President Bill Clinton and Russian Boris Yelts have discussed Kosovo very often in 1998-99.

Two decades later, all talks by the two former statesmen have been published since 1996 and until the end of 1999, KTV reports.

Kosovo for the first time between the two leaders is mentioned in early April 1998, just a month after the start of the war.

As Yelstin tells Clinton that the Kosovo issue must be resolved through the Contact Group, Clinton tells him he fears the conflict will take Bosnian dimensions.

At this start, Clinton told Yeltsin that the imidia goal should be for Kosovo to remain under Yugoslavia with a level of autonomy.

Yeltsini tells Clinton he is working with Milosevic, whom he calls very stubborn but with whom agreement can be reached.

Russian president said he would commit to persuade Milosevic to stop violence against Albanians

Clinton was quoted as telling Yeltsin several times that Milosevic is too small and insignificant to intervene in good relations between the US and Russia at the time.

In August 1998, Clinton again repeated to Yeltsin that he would not allow a second Bosnia, and it would not allow the continuation of crimes against Albanians.

Relations were difficult when NATO had launched the bombing campaign, with Yeltsin constantly seeking their interruption.

Russian President told the American that there were Russian army battalions who were willing to leave for Yugoslavia to help Milosevic in the fight NATO.

But anyone who froze that opportunity was immediately expelled from the military by Yeltsin.

Clinton had several times explained to Yeltsin that to stop shelling, all Serbian arsenals with soldiers, paramilitarys and policemen must be withdrawn from Kosovo.

This in order for some 1 million Kosovo Albanian refugees to return to their homes. He also explained to Yeltsin that an international military presence, with Americans as an important part, was needed to return refugees.

Clinton guaranteed Yeltsin that NATO would not allow revenge attacks by Albanians against Serbs.

He was also committed to deilitarising the KLA and had warned Russian president that UCK was preparing to attack Russians who were stationed at Pristina International Airport, but that they had stepped down after the American warning not to do so.

The last recorded call between the two leaders was December 31st 1999, the day Yeltsin resigned from the post of president and Vladimir Putin became the President's task adviser.