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World - Europe

Finnish leader to join Chernomyrdin on Belgrade visit


Chernomyrdin And Ahtisaari
Chernomyrdin, left, and Ahtisaari

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 MESSAGE BOARD:
China tomorrow

Crisis in Kosovo
 

May 14, 1999
Web posted at: 8:50 a.m. EDT (1250 GMT)


In this story:

U.S., Russia draft proposals on Kosovo forces

French downplay Yeltsin comments

RELATED STORIES, SITES icon



MOSCOW (CNN) -- The president of Finland will join Russia's special envoy to the Balkans on another mission to Belgrade in search of a diplomatic settlement to the conflict in Kosovo, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Finnish President Martii Ahtisaari will accompany former Russian Premier Viktor Chernomyrdin on the trip next week.

On Tuesday, in preparation for that trip and to coordinate positions, there will be a three-way meeting with Strobe Talbott, the deputy U.S. secretary of state, a Russian official said Friday.

"Things are moving forward," the Russian official added.

Chernomyrdin has been on a shuttle diplomacy mission since the war began in March, flying to Belgrade and Washington in search of a peace agreement between the Serbs and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo seeking autonomy or independence.

The Group of Eight countries -- NATO's six largest countries, plus Japan and Russia -- agreed to a framework for an accord during talks in Bonn last week.

The G-8 plan calls for an international peacekeeping force in the Serbian province, where Serb-led Yugoslav troops reportedly have waged a campaign against ethnic Albanian civilians. Hundreds of thousands of them have fled their homes and become refugees.

U.S., Russia draft proposals on Kosovo forces

U.S. officials, while reporting progress, said there are still major disagreements between Russia and the United States on two key issues: the chain-of-command of any future Kosovo peacekeeping force and whether all Yugoslav military authorities would be required to leave Kosovo before refugees are allowed to return.

CNN has learned that Moscow and Washington are drafting two documents aimed at resolving those disputes. Sources say Russia is insisting that the force be strictly under U.N. command, an approach similar to one used in Bosnia earlier this decade.

In that case, both NATO and U.N. approval was required for military action on the ground. U.S. officials say that prevented NATO from making quick decisions when trouble flared among ethnic and religious groups, and contributed to the failure of that force.

The United States is arguing for a chain of command in Kosovo that would not give the United Nations a constant veto. NATO insists on a model similar to the current peacekeeping force in Bosnia.

French downplay Yeltsin comments

The new developments come as Russian President Boris Yeltsin warned that Russia might cut short its mediation efforts if NATO does not stop its eight-week-old air war against Yugoslavia.

Yeltsin warned Wednesday and Thursday that Russia could pull out of negotiations on a Kosovo settlement if NATO ignores Moscow's demand that the bombing be halted.

French President Jacques Chirac, who met with Yeltsin on Thursday, downplayed Yeltsin's statement. Chirac said the comment was tied to Yeltsin's "public position" and "wasn't at all in the spirit of our discussions."

But the Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated Yeltsin's statement Thursday night, saying "Russia will be forced to make serious corrections in its relationship to the situation in the Balkans" if NATO does not end its airstrikes.

Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty contributed to this report.


RELATED STORIES:
NATO dismisses Serb pullout, knocks out electricity
May 13, 1999
Officials ponder ways to get food to homeless in Kosovo
May 13, 1999
First refugees leave Fort Dix to join relatives
May 13, 1999
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May 13, 1999
Sources: Chernomyrdin says Beijing wouldn't veto U.S.-Russia peace plan
May 13, 1999
Reopened Macedonian border draws few refugees
May 13, 1999

RELATED SITES:
Extensive list of Kosovo-related sites:
  • Kosovo

Yugoslavia:
  • Federal Republic of Yugoslavia official site
      • Kesovo and Metohija facts
  • Serbia Ministry of Information
  • Serbia Now! News

Kosovo:
  • Kosova Crisis Center
  • Kosovo - from Albanian.com

Military:
  • F-117s arrive at Aviano to support possible NATO operations
  • NATO official site
  • BosniaLINK - U.S. Dept. of Defense
  • U.S. Navy images from Operation Allied Force
  • U.K. Ministry of Defence - Kosovo news
  • U.K. Royal Air Force - Kosovo news
  • Jane's Defence - Kosovo Crisis


Relief:
  • Doctors Without Borders
  • U.S. Agency for International Development (Kosovo aid)
  • Doctors of the World
  • The IOM Migration Web
  • InterAction
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Kosovo Humanitarian Disaster Forces Hundreds of Thousands from their Homes
  • Catholic Relief Services
  • Kosovo Relief
  • ReliefWeb: Home page
  • The Jewish Agency for Israel
  • Mercy International


Media:
  • Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
  • Independent Yugoslav radio stations B92
  • Institute for War and Peace Reporting
  • United States Information Agency - Kosovo Crisis


Other:
  • Expanded list of related sites on Kosovo
  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Tribune
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of P.R.China
  • 1997 view of Kosovo from space - Eurimage
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