American Mission to O SBE: NATO Ends Ethic Purge in Kosovo

In a statement concerning NATO bombings on the former Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) 24 years ago, the US mission to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSBE) recalls the reasons for what happened.

In this statement, it writes that operations of the North Atlantic Alliance began to end a decade of bloodshed in the Balkans.

Elisabeth Rosenstock-Siller, a leader of the mission's deputy chief, stresses that NATO intervention occurred after all diplomatic routes had been exhausted to end a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing sponsored by the Milosevic regime.

“Twenty-four years ago, NATO launched Operation Allied Forces to end a decade of bloodshed in the Balkans”, it writes in the statement.

This intervention came only after it had exhausted all diplomatic routes to end a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing sponsored by the Milosevic regime”.

In the statement, it writes that the use of force from NATO in this case was necessary and legitimate.

The UN Security Council has voiced its concerns about the serious humanitarian situation in Kosovo, the growing number of refugees and the threat it poses to international peace and security”, recalls the US Mission to the OSCE.

Remember hundreds of thousands of innocent people expelled from their homes and thousands killed or disappeared because of the violence of Milosevic's ethno-nationalist regime and its forces”.

The declaration recalls it is the duty of the governments of Serbia and Kosovo to ensure that all victims and their families have full access to justice and information on the fate of their loved ones.

“We urge both governments to support efforts for justice and accountability, including anti-globalisation of war criminals”.

“We feel deep regret over the loss of innocent lives, including those who lost their lives during Operation Allied Forces”, wrote in this statement, published also the official website of the American Mission to the OSCE.

When visiting Belgrade in 2016, President Biden expressed his personal condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the 1990s wars, including those as a result of NATO air campaign”, is further reminded.

“Anyway, never forget how this conflict started and why”.

The declaration emphasises that the United States strongly supports a democratic, prosperous and peaceful future for the Western Balkans and welcomes the agreement reached by Kosovo and Serbia through the European Union's relief for implementing the Agreement on the Path of Normalisation of Relations.

“Sic said Secretary Blinken, United States will remain actively engaged, in co-ordination with EU partners, to support Serbia and Kosovo in functioning in pursuing a predictable and peaceful relationship”.

It reiterates that it will continue to support advancing democratic governance, good neighbourly relations and prosperity in the Western Balkans.

May we honor the memory of those who lost by working together to build a future of peace and prosperity for all in the Western Balkans”.