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Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management
Coverage of the Kosovo Crisis, 1999-2000
Kosovo: The Long Road to War
A Chronology 1988-1991
This Chronology was prepared as a by-product of work undertaken
by BASIC for a project managed by the Stiftung Wissenschaft
und Politik in Ebenhausen, Germany. It was compiled by Michael
Kraig, a consultant to BASIC, and edited by BASIC Senior Fellow
Jack Seymour.
19881
Summer and fall - As Serbian League of Communists Leader,
Slobodan Milosevic uses Serbian Communist Party funds, and
extreme Serb nationalists from Kosovo, to hold mass rallies
or "Meetings of Truth."
October 4-5 - In the bloodless "yogurt revolution" Milosevic
overturns Communist leaders in Vojvodina.
October 7-8 - Milosevic fails in efforts to use demonstrations
to overturn Montenegrin leadership when the Federal Presidency
threatens to call out the military.
Fall - The two primary ethnic Albanian communist leaders
in Kosovo are moved from the provincial machine by November
18, clearing the way for unfettered political changes by Milosevic.
Eventually, the pliant Albanian police chief Rrahman Morina
would be installed as Kosovo Party President.
November 17-18 In response to the impending resignation of
the two Kosovar Albanian Communist leaders on November 18,
Albanian miners from Trepca march 30 miles to Pristina, joined
the next day by factory workers, students, and schoolchildren,
numbering together potentially 100,000.
November 19 - Milosevic caps the summer and fall of nationalist
demonstrations by holding a planned rally in Belgrade. By
some estimates, over one million Serbs attend.
19892
January - February - The Serbian Assembly begins preparing
amendments to the Serbian constitution, to be passed by a
requisite majority of the Kosovar Assembly. The amendments
would severely restrict Kosovo's powers, giving Serbia control
over the police, courts and civil defence, as well as socio-economic
policy, educational policy, and official language. Realizing
that the extinction of Kosovo's autonomy was near, miners
of Trepca barricaded themselves in mines, some on hunger strikes,
and issued demands such as the dismissal of Rrahman Morina
and "No retreat from the fundamental principles of the 1974
constitution." Other strikes and mass-meetings spread, leading
to temporary Serbian capitulation after eight days and the
ending of the miner's protest. The Serbians then reverse course
and order a crackdown, with hundreds of strikers and miners
arrested.
January 9 - Milosevic-inspired demonstrations overturn the
Montenegrin leadership. Federal authorities do nothing.
February 28 - Angered by a television broadcast showing Slovene
Republican leaders supporting striking Albanian miners, an
estimated million Serbs gather in downtown Belgrade in front
of the National Assembly building. Milosevic uses the crowd
to intimidate League of Communists of Yugoslavia (LCY) leadership
into confirming what amounts to martial law in Kosovo. After
24 hours of demonstration, the crowd disperses when Milosevic
promises that Kosovar Albanian leader Azem Vllassi will be
arrested.
March 1 - Respected Macedonian elder statesman Lazar Mojsov
(former UNGA President) uses a false intelligence report on
Albanian plans for an uprising to gain Federal Assembly approval
for repressive measures in Kosovo. The event shows that Milosevic
has the support of the remaining members of the Partisan generation
communist leaders and also signifies that other republics
have basically abandoned Kosovo Albanians to Milosevic.
March 2- Public figure and leader Azem Vllassi is arrested.
March - Ante Markovic, a liberal economic and political reformer
with a strong preference for Yugoslav unity, is confirmed
as Prime Minister of Yugoslavia by the Federal Assembly. Only
Macedonia joins Serbia in supporting Milosevic's candidate
for the federal PM, Borisav Jovic, showing that Milosevic's
aggressive manipulation of Serb nationalism and clear intention
to take over Yugoslav federal institutions has caused other
republics to back away from him. Within a couple of months,
Macedonia also joins the anti-Milosevic coalition, leaving
the federal balance of power stalemated at 4-4.
March 8 - United States Ambassador Warren Zimmermann arrives
in Belgrade. As he would later write in his memoirs, "By 1989,
it was clear that Serbia and Slovenia were the main antagonists
in Yugoslavia and that the issues they were contesting went
to the heart of Yugoslavia's continued existence."3
March 23 - The provincial Assembly of Kosovo meets to vote
on the Serbian constitutional amendments, surrounded by a
phalanx of tanks and armoured cars to keep out demonstrators.
Large numbers of security police and Serbian Communist functionaries
mingle with Kosovar Assembly members, some purportedly taking
part illegally in the voting. At the end of the session, the
proposed Serbian constitutional amendments are declared as
passed without the 2/3 majority actually required by law.
March 28 - The Serbian Assembly in Belgrade confirms the
Amendments, effectively stripping the autonomy of Kosovo.
With the votes of Serbia, Kosovo, Vojovdina, and Montenegro
under his control, Milosevic now needs just one more Republic
to have a controlling majority on the rotating Yugoslav Presidency,
a collective body with nine representatives.
28 March-April 1 - 3000 Kosovar Albanians demonstrate in
Pristina on the day of the Serbian constitutional confirmation,
and a larger demonstration on the same day in Ferizaj is crushed
by riot police. Major protests take place over the next five
days in at least nine towns, including a clash with firearms
in the town of Podujevo. By March 31, the death toll is 21
demonstrators and two policemen. By April 30 it reaches as
high as 100.
28 March-April - Large-scale arrests occur, including more
than 1,000 workers put on trial in Ferizaj. Several hundred
Albanian intellectuals, officials, and directors of enterprises
are detained without trial, using a hitherto secret provision
of the Yugoslav emergency code intended for war-time, in order
to decapitate Albanian leadership and disorganize protests
against loss of autonomy, with more than 200 in solitary confinement
for several months.
Spring - In meetings with Yugoslav federal officials about
the Kosovo human rights problem and US-Yugoslav relations,
Mr. Zimmermann promises that the US has no intention of interfering
in internal Yugoslav affairs. However, he also states that
the recent conclusion of two years of treaty negotiations
within the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
has re-affirmed that a government's treatment of its own citizens
is a "legitimate subject for international scrutiny.4
May - Serbian Parliament elects Milosevic President of Serbia.
June 28 - Milosevic holds a massive nationalist Serbian celebration
of the 600th anniversary of the battle of Kosovo,
on the battlefield in the heart of Kosovo province, with nearly
1,000,000 people attending.5 Milosevic speaks only briefly but
for the first time mentions the possibility of armed conflict
in Yugoslavia.
July - Ambassador Zimmermann makes his first visit to Kosovo
and meets with opposition leader Ibrahim Rugova. Although
impressed by Rugova's nonviolent accomplishments, he critiques
Albanian boycott of all Serbian political institutions and
strongly argues for Albanian participation in upcoming Serbian
elections.
October - With lobbying by the State Department, Markovic
travels to Washington DC to meet with President Bush, Secretary
of State James Baker, Defense Secretary Cheney, Treasury Secretary
Nicholas Brady, members of Congress, and bankers and businessmen
in New York. During his visit to the White House, President
Bush uses most of the interview to discuss the "staying power"
of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, while many members of
Congress criticize Yugoslav policy in Kosovo -missing the
fact that the abuses are inflicted by the Republic of Serbia.
The final policy result is a US statement of "strong support
for Yugoslav independence, unity, and sovereignty," as well
as Markovic's "commitment to market-oriented economic reform
and building democratic pluralism."6 However, Washington ultimately declines
economic support, refusing a re-scheduling of loan payments
that would have given Markovic $1.1 billion to spend on reform.
Late 1989 - In response to heavy Slovenian criticism of Serbia's
previous actions in Kosovo, Milosevic attempts to stage a
mass rally in Slovenia's capital on 1 December.7 Slovenia bans the meeting, and only
a few Serbs arrive in the capitol.
December - Milosevic retaliates against Slovenia's ban on
demonstrations in Ljubljana by instituting a Serbian economic
embargo against Slovenia. The Federal Yugoslav government
protests but cannot affect inter-Repubican trade policies.
In counter-response, the Slovenian government refuses to pay
its share of the Belgrade Federal fund for underdeveloped
regions, choosing instead to send the monies directly to the
Kosovo Provincial government in Pristina, in defiance of the
recent constitutional changes enacted by Serbia.8
19909
January 20-22 - The 14th Special Congress of the League of
Communists of Yugoslavia (LCY) takes place in Belgrade. Bitter
antagonism between various republican delegations, based in
part on human rights abuses in Kosovo, culminates in the decision
of the Slovenian delegation to leave the Congress.
January 24 - Demonstrations commence in Kosovo. Forty thousand
Albanians demand lifting of emergency measures, demand calling
off the trial of Azem Vlasi, one of the Albanian leaders,
and issue the proclamation of an "Albanian Republic of Kosovo."
At least 14 people are shot dead.
February 1-2 - Martial Law is declared in Kosovo, and the
Yugoslav Army is taken out in the streets of several towns
in the Province.
February 25-26 - To increase the visibility of support for
Federal Prime Minister Ante Markovic, Deputy Secretary of
State Lawrence Eagleburger visits Belgrade. In a separate
meeting with Serb Prime Minister Milosevic, Eagleburger emphasizes
that Serbian abuses in Kosovo are hurting Yugoslav-US relations.10
To acquaint himself with the candidates that would later
take part in spring and summer Republican and Provincial elections,
the Deputy Secretary also heads an unprecedented meeting in
Belgrade with 15 members of Yugoslav opposition groups. Most
of these local leaders are meeting each other for the first
time. Liberal politicians from Macedonia, Montenegro, and
Bosnia urge Western support for Federal Prime Minister Markovic.
Ibrahim Rugova, the leader of the outlawed Kosovar Albanian
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), has not yet accepted the
need for full Kosovar independence from Serbia and argues
instead for a confederal Yugoslavia based on a real dialogue
with the Federal Government. Veton Suroi, another young Albanian
leader who would become prominent, asserts that Kosovo does
not yet favor independence.
Eagleburger ends the meeting with two statements about US
policy. He argues that human rights, freedom, and a market
economy are more likely under a united Yugoslavia, but then
also notes in response to a Slovene question about secession
that although the US would prefer that Slovenia remain in
Yugoslavia and fight for democratic change, the United States
would have no choice but to accept the breakup if it were
to occur peacefully and democratically.11 Eagleburger returns to the United
States with the impression that Markovic's sources of support
are extraordinarily weak.
March - The Serbian assembly decrees a series of measures
titled "Program for the Realization of Peace and Prosperity
in Kosovo." The measures include new electoral municipalities
for Kosovar Serbs, new investment in Serb Kosovar areas, family
planning for Albanians (who have the highest birth rate in
Europe), and annulling sales of Serbian Kosovar property to
Albanians.
March - A secret meeting in Belgrade of the Serbian "coordinating
committee" (an informal but powerful leadership body) decides
on a new Serbian political-military strategy to create a Greater
Serbia, uniting all Serbs in Yugoslavia. The group decides
to draft a new Serbian constitution that can serve for an
independent state.
March-April - Thousands of Kosovar Albanian children, now
attending separate sessions at schools, are taken to the hospital
for stomach pains, headaches, and nausea. Albanian parents,
believing their children are being systematically poisoned,
attack the homes of local Serb residents. Serbia uses these
attacks as a rationale for further police crackdowns, including
the transfer of 25,000 more policemen to the province. Seven
Albanian communist ministers resign from the provincial government
in protest against the increased police presence.
April - US observers from the Congressional Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE-US) tour Kosovo to
evaluate the human rights situation. The duty of the Commission
since 1975 has been to monitor for the US Congress the faithful
implementation of the Human Rights sections of the Helsinki
Final Act by all 36 member States of the Conference on Security
and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).
June 26 - A series of "temporary measures" is passed by the
Serbian Assembly, in reality defining a new, permanent status
quo in Kosovo. The Albanian language newspaper Rilindja
is suppressed, the Kosovo Academy of Arts and Sciences is
closed, and thousands of state employees -including educators
in school and college- are permanently dismissed.
July 2 - Albanian members of the Assembly of Kosovo gather
in front of the Assembly building in Pristina and adopt a
Constitutional declaration proclaiming a "Kosovo Republic"within
Yugoslavia.
July 5 - The Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Serbia
dissolves the Assembly of Kosovo.
September 7 - At a secret meeting in Kacanik (Kosovo)
Albanian representatives of the dissolved Assembly of Kosovo
pass a new Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo.
September 28 - The Assembly of Serbia passes a new
Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, putting a legalistic
seal on the de facto loss of autonomy in Kosovo and
demonstrating Milosevic's ideal for a "united Yugoslavia."
November - After a series of resolutions and amendments,
the US Congress supports a sanctions policy titled the Nickles
Amendment, which prohibits economic assistance to Yugoslavia
unless Serbia ceases abuses in Kosovo. The Bush administration
does not support it because the burden would fall on Markovic's
Federal Government, which the US is trying to support. It
passes, over President Bush's veto and despite assiduous lobbying
against it by Ambassador Zimmermann. The bill comes into force
six months later, but Secretary of State James Baker invokes
discretionary authority to block its implementation.12
November 28 - A National Intelligence Estimate, involving
the entire Intelligence Community of the US government (e.g.,
Department of State, various elements of Department of Defense,
Treasury, and Justice) becomes publicly known through the
newspaper accounts of reporter David Binder. Originally produced
in 1989, it forecast that Yugoslavia would cease to function
within one year and would probably dissolve within two. It
predicted that Serbia would block Slovenian and Croatian attempts
to form a Yugoslav confederation, that there would be a protracted
armed uprising by the Albanians in Kosovo, and that Serbia
would foment uprisings by Serbian minorities in Croatia and
Bosnia. It forwarded the pessimistic conclusion that the United
States and Europe could do nothing to preserve democratic
unity. It turned out to be inaccurate on Kosovo -the armed
uprising would not begin until 1996, and would not escalate
to civil war until early 1998.
9 and 26 December - Two ballots of multiparty elections
take place in Serbia and Montenegro. Albanians boycott the
elections in Serbia. Milosevic handily defeats the relatively
well-known and vocal opposition leader Vuk Draskovic for Serbian
President. Balloting is more or less correct but during the
campaign Milosevic exploits his total control of the media
against the opposition, which is divided among several parties
and presidential candidates.
December 23 - In a plebiscite in Slovenia, 88.5 per cent
of voters favor sovereignty and independence for Slovenia
in six months. Events in Kosovo are a primary rationale for
these popular attitudes, as is the drain of economic resources
into poorer regions such as Kosovo and the Republics of Macedonia
and Montenegro.
1991
February 6 - A delegation of the Council of Europe (Fernadez
Ordones and Catherine Lalumiere) visits Yugoslavia. Based
on this trip, the Council tells Yugoslavia that if it wants
to join the Council of Europe, the first condition it would
have to meet is to peacefully resolve its inter-Republican
disputes and hold multiparty elections for the Federal Assembly.
March 12-15 - As the members of the Yugoslav Presidency gather
in Belgrade, a Yugoslav National Army (JNA) bus unexpectedly
takes them to a military headquarters building on the other
side of the city. The members are kept at the location for
three days (until 15 March), where they are cajoled by General
Kadijevic and Serbian President Jovic to authorize force against
Slovenia and Croatia. The Kosovar member and those from Macedonia
and Bosnia refuse.13
March 16 - In furious response to the failure of the Presidency
vote for JNA use of force, Milosevic uses the Serbian parliament
to replace the Kosovar member of the Presidency. He then announces
that "Yugoslavia is finished" and refuses to respect the authority
of the Federal Government in Belgrade.14
March 19 - The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia
assumes the authorities of the dissolved Kosovo Assembly.
March 26 - The European Community releases a Declaration
on Yugoslavia in which it supports all efforts to solve the
evolving political and social crises through dialogue. The
EC also calls on all sides to refrain from the use of force.
The EC states that a "united and democratic Yugoslavia has
the best chance of being harmoniously integrated into a new
Europe."
April 11
- At the third Summit of the six Presidents of Yugoslav republics,
it is agreed that by the end of May all republics should hold
referendums in order to resolve whether Yugoslavia will be
a confederation of sovereign republics (as proposed by Slovenia
and Croatia) or a democratic federation (as proposed by Serbia
and Montenegro).
- US Ambassador Zimmermann issues a warning against the use
of military force to General Kadijevic, leader of the JNA,
whose Serbian bias has now become evident in statements by
JNA leaders and the JNA's role in the disturbing events of
March 9-15 in Belgrade. The General calls the US statement
"insulting," arguing that "the United States has done nothing
to preserve unity. Now Yugoslavia is on the brink of disintegration."15
May 24 - Multiparty parliamentary and presidential elections,
deemed illegal by the Serbian authorities, are held in Kosovo
and Metohija. Roughly 88% of registered voters (mostly Albanian)
turn up for the vote. Ibrahim Rugova is elected "President
of the Republic of Kosovo" by 95%. The Democratic Alliance
of Kosovo, or LDK, in the first round wins 78% of all the
votes and all the seats in the Shadow Parliament.
June 19 - The Ministerial Council of the Conference on Security
and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) at its meeting in Berlin
adopts a Declaration expressing support for democratic development,
unity, and the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia, based
on economic reforms, the full application of human rights
in all parts of Yugoslavia (including the rights of minorities),
and a peaceful solution of the present crisis in the country.
June 21 - Secretary James Baker completes a trek to Belgrade,
the first major high-level visit by someone from President
Bush's inner circle with the aim of stemming the tide of Yugoslav
dissolution. Having just completed a two-day meeting with
the European CSCE, Baker arrives with a unified statement
from the 36 CSCE members supporting Yugoslav unity, reform,
human rights, and a peaceful solution to internal troubles.
The trip is meant as a warning to leaders with secessionist
intentions, as well as a warning to Milosevic concerning his
human rights abuses and use of the JNA as a proxy for Serbia.
He castigates Milosevic for actions in Kosovo, for the persistent
attempts by Serbia to undermine the Markovic regime, and for
his attempt to destroy the Yugoslav Presidency in March 1991.
However, Baker also notes that the US will not commit NATO
or US military forces as part of the solution. Finally, Baker
tells Prime Minister Markovic in a separate meeting not to
rely on the JNA to keep Slovenia from seceding, as it might
undermine Western support, given the JNA's Serbian bias. Baker
then issues the same message in meetings with Slovenian and
Croatian representatives. The President of Slovenia, Milan
Kucan, replies, "The question of secession is not whether,
but how."16
June 25
- The Assembly of the Republic of Croatia unanimously adopts
a Declaration on Proclamation of an independent and sovereign
Republic of Croatia and begins the process of dissociation
from Yugoslavia. It also adopts a Charter on the rights of
Serbs and other national minorities.
- The Assembly of Slovenia adopts documents on separation
from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and
a declaration of independence.
June 26
- The Yugoslav Federal Government declares that Slovenian
and Croatian moves toward separation are illegal. Federal
police and the JNA are authorized to remove Slovenian and
Croatian border check points and regain control over the Yugoslav
state borders with Italy, Austria and Hungary, now occupied
by Slovenian border authorities.
- Delegates from Slovenia and Croatia leave the Yugoslav
Federal Assembly.
June 27
- Armed conflicts begin between JNA units and Territorial
Defense units (TO) of Slovenia.
- The Yugoslav Federal Secretariat for National Defense releases
a statement declaring illegal and unconstitutional the unilateral
proclamations of Croatia and Slovenia.
June 28 - The European Community sends a peace mission to
Yugoslavia consisting of the "troika" of the past, current,
and future EC presidencies: foreign ministers Jacques Poos
of Luxembourg, Gianni de Michelis of Italy, and Hans Van Den
Broek of the Netherlands. The EC also freezes all economic
assistance to Yugoslavia.
July 7 - Under the auspices of the European Community, a
meeting takes place on Brioni involving members of the SFRY
Presidency, the Republican leaders of Slovenia and Croatia,
the Yugoslav Federal Prime Minister, and interior and defense
ministers of the Republics. The Common Declaration on Peaceful
Solution of the Yugoslav Crisis (so-called Brioni Declaration)
is adopted, calling for peaceful negotiations on dissolution,
inter-Republican cooperation, and CSCE monitoring missions
in the region.
August 27 - In the Declaration on Yugoslavia the European
Community proposes convening a Peace Conference on Yugoslavia
and the establishment of an Arbitration Commission, consisting
of five members elected from the representatives of Constitutional
Courts of the EC member States.
September 3 - 12 - A Declaration of the European Community
on Yugoslavia is adopted in The Hague on 3 September, announcing
the beginning of a "Conference on Yugoslavia" under EC auspices.
Lord Peter Carrington is appointed the chairman of the Conference.
The Conference will adopt mechanisms which should ensure a
peaceful fulfillment of opposing aspirations of the Yugoslav
peoples on the basis of the following principles: 1) no unilateral
change of borders by use of force; 2) protection of rights
of all in Yugoslavia; and 3) full respect for all legitimate
interests and aspirations. The meeting takes place as scheduled
and involves all major Federal and Republican Yugoslav authorities,
but leaders of the emerging shadow government in Kosovo (such
as the coalition party LDK) are not invited to participate.
The first plenary session behind closed doors begins on 12
September.
September 17 - Lord Carrington, President of Croatia Franjo
Tudjman, Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Serbian
General Veljko Kadijevic sign a joint ceasefire statement.
September 25 - The UN Security Council adopts Resolution
on Yugoslavia 713. It notes that the development of the situation
in Yugoslavia constitutes a threat to peace and security in
the world and extends support to the EC and the CSCE in efforts
to resolve the Yugoslav crisis. The Council decides to enforce
a general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons
and military equipment to Yugoslavia on the basis of Article
41 of the UN Charter.
September 30 - A referendum of ethnic Albanians is held in
Kosovo. According to information from organizers 99% of those
who cast their ballots opt for a "sovereign and independent
state of Kosovo."
October 8
- After the expiry of the three-month Brioni "moratorium"
on moves toward independence, the Assembly of the Republic
of Croatia severs state and legal bonds with the SFRY and
declares independence.
- The Assembly of Slovenia declares independence and gives
a 10-day notice to the JNA to withdraw all its units from
the territory of Slovenia.
October 18 - The second session of the Conference on Yugoslavia
is held in The Hague. Co-Chairman Lord Carrington submits
a Draft Declaration on Yugoslavia with proposals for the solution
of the Yugoslav crisis. The essence of the proposal is awarding
of sovereignty and independence to republics, their international
recognition as states, the possibility for their free association
as sovereign states, and establishment of a mechanism for
protection of human rights and rights of national and ethnic
groups. However, the possibility of Kosovo Province achieving
similar status as an independent entity is not considered
or discussed.
October 29 - Foreign ministers of EC member states accept
a Declaration on restrictive measures against all sides invloved
in Yugoslav conflict for their efforts to block a peaceful
solution at the Conference on Yugoslavia. The EC announces
that it would terminate the agreement on cooperation and trade
with Yugoslavia and renew it only with those sides contributing
to the peace process.
November 5 - The plenary session of the Conference on Yugoslavia
discusses version 4 of the document on solution of the Yugoslav
crisis. The possibility of creating a common state by the
republics that wish to remain within it is added to the main
principles. However, the status of Kosovo is not included
in the document, since it is regarded as sovereign territory
of the FRY.
November 8 - The Foreign Ministers of EC member states convene
an extraordinary meeting in Rome to take the following measures:
immediate suspension and termination of the application of
Trade and Cooperation Agreement with Yugoslavia; restoration
of the quantitative limits for textiles; removal of Yugoslavia
from the list of beneficiaries of the General System of Preferences;
and formal suspension of benefits under the PHARE programme.
The Community invites the UN Security Council to enhance the
effectiveness of the arms embargo and take steps towards imposing
an oil embargo.
November 21 - The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia promulgates
a new Constitution, defining Macedonia as a democratic, sovereign,
and independent state.
November 23 - In the UN headquarters in Geneva, in the presence
of Lord Carrington and Cyrus Vance, Croatia and Serbia sign
an unconditional ceasefire.
November 27 - The UN Security Council adopts Resolution on
Yugoslavia 721, supporting in principle the establishment
of a peace-keeping operation in Yugoslavia.
November 30 - The CSCE Crisis Committee convenes without
the participation of the Yugoslav delegation, adopting a Resolution
supporting the activities of the UN in connection with the
crisis in Yugoslavia.
December 2 - The EC Ministerial Council decides not to apply
economic sanctions towards Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia,
Slovenia and Croatia. This decision in practice means that
economic sanctions should refer only to Serbia and Montenegro,
and by extension, Kosovo Province under Serbian rule.
December 10 - The Arbitration Commission of the Conference
on Yugoslavia (so-called Badinter Commission) issues its first
opinion. The Commission declares the SFRY is "in the process
of dissolution;" that it is the responsibility of Republican
governments to peacefully decide the question of State succession,
in accordance with principles and rules of international law
and with special attention to human rights and minority rights;
and that it is upon those republics wishing to do so to act
jointly to create new associations which would have democratic
institutions according to their choice. The question of independence
for Provinces in the SFRY is not included in the judgement.
December 17 - Foreign Ministers of the European Community
adopt in Brussels a Declaration on the Guidelines on the Recognition
of New States in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, and
the Declaration on Yugoslavia. The first document determines
general criteria to serve as guidelines for the EC in recognition
of new states "in conformity with normal standards of international
practice and political reality in any particular case." All
Yugoslav republics are invited to submit by 23 December their
applications and proof that they meet the criteria. Proof
on qualification would be assessed by the Arbitration Committee
of the Conference on Yugoslavia, while decisions on possible
recognition would be made by the EC Ministerial Council after
15 January 1992.
December 20 - Federal Yugoslav Prime Minister Ante Markovic
resigns his post.
December 23 - Germany officially recognizes the independence
and sovereignty of Slovenia and Croatia, to become effective
on 15 January 1992.
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