Kosovo

NATO is continuing its air campaign against military targets in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in order to put an end to the violent actions initiated by President Milosevic's forces and to stop the humanitarian disaster which is taking place in the region. So far, more than 430,000 deportees have flowed into neighbouring countries since 24 March 1999, to find refuge from the Serb Army and special police units.

The Alliance is providing assistance to tens of thousands of refugees who have been driven from their homes. Individual NATO member countries are temporarily taking in refugees and organising airlifts.

NATO forces already in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia¹ - the ARRC: the Allied Command Europe (ACE) Rapid Reaction Corps- have set up a "tented city" to assist thousands of refugees coming over the border. Food, medical supplies and a water purification plant have already been supplied. The Allies are also airlifting relief supplies into refugee camps in Albania. Plans are moving ahead for the NATO military to deploy a forward headquarters in Albania to support efforts by the UNHCR and other organisations. NATO has opened up a relief supply route for helicopters between Tirana and Kukes on the border.

This week, NATO's Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Sergio Balanzino, travelled to the region to meet with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ¹ Government and the Commander of the Alliance's ACE Rapid Reaction Corps, General Sir Michael Jackson, to assess the refugee situation. He also went to Romania, Bulgaria and Albania for consultations with senior Government Ministers, and visited a refugee camp in Kukes (Albania).

NATO remains committed to its ultimate objective of supporting the diplomatic efforts of the international community to find a political solution to this crisis. The unilateral cease-fire proposed by FRY and the Government of Serbia is insufficient. Before a cease-fire can be considered, NATO Secretary General, Dr Javier Solana, has stated that President Milosevic must meet the demands set out by the international community: a peaceful multi-ethnic democratic Kosovo in which all its people live in security. This would mean the return of all refugees and therefore the deployment of an international security presence, the withdrawal of Serb military, police and paramilitary forces, and putting into place of a political framework for Kosovo on the basis of the Rambouillet Accords.